Fleet Air Arm (Royal Australian Navy)

The Fleet Air Arm, formally known as the Australian Navy Aviation Group, is the division of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN)responsible for the operation of aircraft. The FAA was founded in 1947 following the purchase of two aircraft carriers from the Royal Navy. FAA personnel fought in the Korean War (operating from the carrier HMAS Sydney) and the Vietnam War (attached to a Royal Australian Air Force squadron and a United States Army Aviation company), and participated in later conflicts and operations from host warships.

Initially operating only fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters were first acquired by the FAA in 1952, forming Australia's first helicopter squadron. Helicopter usage increased over time, particularly after 1982, when the carrier HMAS Melbourne was decommissioned. In 1986, the RAN regained fixed wing carrier aviation with the acquisition of the USS Oriskany from the US.

Aircraft Inventory

Fighters

• McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18C/D Hornet x 48 (Multirole Fighter) to be replaced by the F-35C
• Boeing IDS F/A-18E/F Super Hornet x 48 (Multirole Fighter)
• Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II x 2 (Multirole Strike Fighter) - 78 more on order

Attack Aircraft

• Northrop Grumman A-6F Intruder x 32 (Strike Aircraft) - to replaced by the F-35C

ELINT Aircraft

• Bombardier Dash-8-200 x 2 (Hydrographic Survey Aircraft)
• Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye 2000 x 12 (Carrier based AWACS Aircraft)
• Boeing IDS EA-18G Growler x 12 (Electronic Warfare)

Maritime Patrol Aircraft

• Lockheed S-3AU Viking x 24 (Carrier based Maritime Patrol Aircraft)
• Boeing P-8A Poseidon x 16 (Maritime Surveillance Aircraft) - 2 more on order
• Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton x 10 (Maritime Surveillance UAV)

Transport Aircraft

• Northrop Grumman C-2A(R) Greyhound x 6 (Carrier Offshore Delivery)
• Boeing MQ-25A Stingray x 12 (Carrier based Aerial Tanker)

Trainer Aircraft

• McDonnell-Douglas T-45C Goshawk x 24 (Carrier based trainer aircraft)

Helicopters

• Boeing CH-47F Chinook x 18 (Heavy Lift Helicopter)
• Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow x 30 (Attack Helicotper)
• Bombardier CA-200M Sea Scorpion x 0 (Tiltrotor Gunship) - 28 on order
• Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion x 24 (Heavy Lift Helicopter)
• Sikorsky MH-60J Jayhawk x 26 (SAR Helicopter)
• Sikorky MH-60R Seahawk x 46 (Multirole Utility Helicopter) - 14 more on order
• NHIndustries MRH-90 Taipan x 30 (Utility Helicopter)
• Bell 429 x 4 (Training Helicopter)
• Eurocopter EC135T2+ x 16 (Training Helicopter)
• Eurocopter AS350BA Squirrel x 14 (Training Helicopter)