List of aircraft of the Royal Australian Navy
This is a list of aircraft of the Royal Australian Navy , including past and present aircraft operated by the Navy of Australia ].
A Royal Australian Navy MRH-90 in 2015
RAN SH-60, 2020
A Royal Australian Navy Bell 429
Present
Historic
A
B
C
D
E
Aircraft type
Variants
Origin
Role
Service period
Notes
N52 Eurocopter EC135
EC 135 T2+
Europe
Training helicopter
2016–present
15 helicopters
F
G
H
K
Aircraft type
Variants
Origin
Role
Service period
Notes
N29 Kaman SH-2G Super Seasprite
SH-4G(A) Super Seasprite
United States
Search and rescue, anti-submarine, anti-surface warfare helicopter
2004–2008
11 helicopters. Operated by No. 805 Squadron RAN
M
Aircraft type
Variants
Origin
Role
Service period
Notes
N13 McDonnell Douglas A-4G Skyhawk
A-4G Skyhawk TA-4G Skyhawk
United States
Single-seat carrier-borne light attack, fighter-bomber aircraft
1967–1984
20 aircraft. Operated by Nos 724 Squadron RAN and 805 Squadron RAN . The Skyhawks were embarked on board the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne
MRH-90 Taipan
Multi Role Helicopter
EU
TTH: Tactical Transport Helicopter
2011-2022
6 Operated by 808 Squadron . In September 2022, the Australian government ordered 12 MH-60Rs to replace the MRH-90s.[ 4] [ 5] The MRH-90 Taipan was withdrawn from Navy service in 2022, a year earlier then its retirement overall in 2023.
N
Aircraft type
Varants
Origin
Role
Service period
Notes
N40 NHIndustries NH90
MRH-90 Taipan
Europe
Multi-role transport helicopter
2013–present
Six helicopters. Operated by No. 808 Squadron RAN
S
Aircraft types
Variants
Origin
Role
Service period
Notes
N24 Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk
S-70B-2 Seahawk
United States
Anti-submarine, anti-surface, search and rescue helicopter
1988–2017
16 helicopters. Operated by No. 816 Squadron RAN . The Seahawks were embarked on board the Adelaide -class frigates and Anzac -class frigates . Retired 2017[ 6]
N48 Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk Romeos
MH-60R Seahawk Romeos
United States
Anti-submarine, anti-surface, search and rescue helicopter
2013–present
24 helicopters. Operated by Nos 725 Squadron RAN and 816 Squadron RAN
Sikorsky H-5 Dragonfly
H03-S
United States
Air-sea rescue, communications helicopter
1950–1951
Two helicopter on loan from the US Navy . The helicopter was embarked on board the aircraft carrier HMAS Sydney during the Korean War .
Sopwith 1½ Strutter
1 Strutter
United States
Two-seat reconnaissance biplane
1918–1919
Three aircraft. The aircraft were embarked on board the battlecruiser HMAS Australia
Sopwith Baby
Baby
United States
Single-seat scout, bomber seaplane
1917 only
One aircraft. Embarked on board the light cruiser HMAS Brisbane in 1917.
Sopwith Camel
Camel 2F1
United Kingdom
Single-seat shipboard fighter-scout biplane
1917–1919
Seven aircraft. The Camels were embarked on board the battlecruiser HMAS Australia , and the light cruisers HMAS Sydney and HMAS Melbourne
Sopwith Pup
Pup
United Kingdom
Single-seat fighter-scout biplane
1917–1918
Three aircraft. The Pups were embarked on board the cruisers HMAS Australia and HMAS Sydney
Supermarine Sea Otter
Type 309 Sea Otter
United Kingdom
Three or four-seat carrier-borne air-sea rescue amphibian aircraft
1948–1953
Three aircraft. Operated by No. 723 Squadron RAN . The Sea Otters were embarked on the aircraft carrier HMAS Sydney
A9 Supermarine Seagull III
Seagull III
United Kingdom
Three-seat spotter, reconnaissance amphibian aircraft
1925–1936
Nine aircraft. Operated by the RAAF in support of the Royal Australian Navy. The Seagull IIIs were embarked on board the seaplane tender HMAS Albatross , the cruisers HMAS Australia and HMAS Canberra .
A2 Supermarine Walrus or (Seagull V)
Seagull V
United Kingdom
Three-seat spotter, reconnaissance amphibian aircraft
1935–1947
24 aircraft. Operated by the RAAF in support of the Royal Australian Navy. The aircraft were embarked on board the cruisers HMAS Australia , HMAS Canberra , HMAS Hobart , HMAS Perth and HMAS Sydney , plus the naval vessels HMAS Manoora and HMAS Westralia .
A58 Supermarine Spitfire
Spitfire Mk VC Spitfire VIII
United Kingdom
Single-seat land-based trainer, ground instructional aircraft
1947–1952
14 Ex-RAAF aircraft
V
W
Aircraft type
Variants
Origin
Role
Service period
Notes
Wackett Widgeon
Widgeon Mk I Widgeon Mk II
Australia
spotter, reconnaissance amphibian aircraft
1927–1933
Two aircraft. The Widegons were embarked on board the seaplane tender HMAS Albatross .
N8 Westland Scout
Scout AH Mk 1
United Kingdom
Survey, utility helicopter
1963–1977
Two helicopters. Operated by No. 723 Squadron RAN . The Scouts were embarked on board the survey ship HMAS Moresby
N7 Westland Wessex
Wessex Mk 31A Wessex Mk 31B
United Kingdom
Carrier-borne anti-submarine, search and rescue, utility transport helicopter
1962–1989
27 helicopter. Operated by Nos 723 Squadron RAN , 725 Squadron RAN , 816 Squadron RAN and 817 Squadron RAN . The Wessex helicopters were embarked on board the aircraft carriers HMAS Sydney and HMAS Melbourne . Also the replenishment oiler HMAS Success , and the escort maintenance ship HMAS Stalwart .
N16 Westland Sea King
Sea King Mk 50 Sea King Mk 50A Sea King Mk 50B
United Kingdom
Carrier-borne anti-submarine, search and rescue, utility transport helicopter
1974–2011
12 helicopters. Operated by No. 817 Squadron RAN . The Sea kings were embarked on board the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne . Also the two Kanimbla -class landing platform amphibious ships, and the escort maintenance ship HMAS Stalwart , and the replenishment oiler HMAS Success and the heavy landing ship HMAS Tobruk .
Civilian aircraft operating under contract
Drones/RAV
Present
Historic
Aircraft type
Variants
Origin
Role
Service period
Notes
N28 BAE Kalkara
MQM-107E Kalkara
United States / Australia
Remotely-controlled high-performance target drone
1998–2008
21 aircraft
N11 GAF Jindivik
Jindivik Mk 203A Jindivik Mk 203B
Australia
Remotely-controlled high-performance target drone
1966–2000
42 aircraft
GAF Turana
Turana
Australia
target drone
1971–1979
23 aircraft
N10 Northrop KD2R Shelduck
KD2R-5 Shelduck
United States
target drone
1963–1973
List of guided missiles of the Royal Australian Navy
Current
Historic
Model
Variants
Origin
Role
Service period
Notes
AIM-9 Sidewinder
AIM-9B
United States
Short-range air-to-air missile
Obsolete, on longer in service with the Royal Australian Navy. Carried by the A-4G Skyhawk aircraft
AGM-114 Hellfire
AGM-114B AGM-114K AGM-114N
United States
Air-to-surface anti-ship missile
2014–present
Carried by the MH-60R Seahawk Romeos helicopters
AGM-119 Penguin
AGM-119B Penguin Mk 2 mod 7
Norway
Air-to-surface anti-ship missile
2004–2008
Obsolete, on longer in service with the Royal Australian Navy. Carried by the SH-2G(A) Super Seasprite helicopters
Ikara
Australia
Surface-to-surface anti-submarine missile
1963–
Obsolete, on longer in service with the Royal Australian Navy. The Ikara was carried on board the Perth -class destroyers and River-class destroyer escorts
Mark 44 torpedo
United States
Lightweight anti-submarine torpedo
1966–
Obsolete, on longer in service with the Royal Australian Navy. Carried by the Sea King Mk 50 and Mk 50A Helicopters. Also carried by the Ikara anti-submarine missile.
Mark 46 torpedo
United States
Lightweight anti-submarine torpedo
Present
Carried by the S-70B-2 Seahawk, Sea King Mk 50 and Mk 50A helicopters, also by the Perth -class destroyers
Mark 48 torpedo
United States
Heavyweight anti-submarine, anti-ship torpedo
1980–present
Carried by the Oberon -class submarines .
Mark 54 Lightweight Torpedo
United States
Lightweight anti-submarine torpedo
2013–present
Carried by the RH-60R Seahawk Romeos helicopters
MU90 Impact
France / Italy
Lightweight anti-submarine torpedo
2008–present
RGM-84 and UGM-84 Harpoon
United States
Surface-to-surface anti-ship cruise missile
1981-Present
The Harpoon was carried on board the Oberon -class submarines
RIM-7 Sea Sparrow
RIM-7P
United States
Short-range surface-to-air missile
1998–
The Sea Sparrows were carried on board the Anzac -class frigates
RIM-24 Tartar
United States
Medium-range surface-to-air missile
1966–1987
Obsolete, on longer in service with the Royal Australian Navy. The Tartars were carried on board the Perth -class destroyers
RIM-66 Standard
RIM-66B
United States
Medium-range surface-to-air missile
1975–present
The RIM-66 Standard was part of the armament of the Perth -class destroyers
RIM-162 ESSM
United States
Medium-range surface-to-air missile
2003–present
Carried by the Adelaide-class frigates , Anzac-class frigates and Hobart-class destroyers .
Seacat
United Kingdom
Short-range surface-to-air missile
1964–1998
Obsolete, on longer in service with Royal Australian Navy. The Seacats were carried on board the River-class destroyer escorts , and the Daring -class destroyer HMAS Vampire .
Notes
See also
Command Organisation
Ships and equipment
Current fleet (Anzac -class frigate , Adelaide -class frigate , Collins -class submarine , Canberra -class landing helicopter dock , Bay-class landing ship , Armidale -class patrol boat , Huon -class minehunter , HMAS Sirius , Leeuwin -class survey vessel , Paluma -class motor launch , Young Endeavour , Cape-class patrol boat )
All ships
Aircraft
Naval procurement programme
Equipment
Craft of Opportunity Program
Installations Personnel Current operations History Other Former entities