The Ministry of Defense has published an annual report on the equipment and formations of the British Armed Forces, which provides an overview of the current assets of the armed forces on land, at sea and in the air as of April 1, 2024.
The report details the composition of British military equipment and formations, as well as trends in the structure of forces and equipment modernization.
Naval forces
As of April 2024, the British Navy consisted of:10 submarines, including six nuclear-powered multipurpose submarines and four ballistic missile submarines. There are 70 vessels in total, of which 57 vessels are part of the surface fleet of the Royal Navy and 13 vessels in the auxiliary fleet of the Royal Navy. The report also highlights the ongoing shift in naval capabilities with investments in future platforms such as the Type 26 and Type 31 frigates, as well as the Royal Navy's growing focus on autonomous systems.
Ground forces
The British Army has a significant fleet of combat vehicles: 3,316 armored vehicles, including 843 armored personnel carriers (APC), 1,513 protected vehicles and 960 armored fighting vehicles.32 infantry battalions of the regular army and 16 battalions of the army reserve. The increase in the number of military vehicles is due to the introduction of new platforms, such as the Ajax armored reconnaissance vehicle and additional Jackal patrol vehicles.
The Air Force
The Royal Air Force and the Fleet Air Arm jointly operate a diverse fleet of 556 fixed wing aircraft, including 137 Typhoon, the most numerous fast jet aircraft in operation. The decommissioning of the Hercules C-130J transport aircraft was noted as an important change.268 helicopters, with 54 Chinooks remaining the most common type. The introduction of the Apache AH-64E continues, while the older Gazelle helicopters have been decommissioned.183 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAS) supporting intelligence and surveillance operations. The modernization of the RAF fleet is evident due to the transition to next-generation platforms, including the F-35B Lightning II, and investments in unmanned systems. The report also mentions military utility vessels registered in the UK, which can be requisitioned if necessary. The total number of such vessels decreased from 495 in 2022 to 475 in 2023, while the number of food tankers and chemical vessels decreased.
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