UKSF Aviation

Air support for UKSF operations is provided by some highly trained pilots from all branches of the UK military.

RAF Special Forces Flights

RAF Special Forces are the cream of the RAF, tasked with flying UKSF forces to and from battle. Trained to penetrate deep behind enemy lines, RAF Special Forces flights operate both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft.

7 Squadron (chinook helicopters) »

47 Squadron (c-130 hercules planes) »

Army Air Corps (AAC)

Army pilots fly battlefield insertion/extraction and surveillance operations for UKSF. They also provide a covert transport facility for the Special Air Service.

8 Flight (SAS helicopter support) »

657 Squadron (Lynx AH7 helicopters) »

651 Squadron (Defender 4S AL.1 fixed wing aircraft) »

Jumping from a perfectly good RAF Hercules cargo plane is something UKSF practice regularly.

7 Squadron RAF, 657 & 651 Squadron AAC are combined into the Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing (JSFAW)

Commando Helicopter Force

Top pilots from the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm support Royal Marines, SBS and other UKSF operations.

Commando Helicopter Force »

UKSF, as well as the Paras and Royal Marines may also be supported by any of the many squadrons in the RAF, AAC or Fleet Air Arm. For instance, it is believed that RAF Puma HC1s are supporting the SAS in Iraq.

UKSF may also work closely with the air forces of friendly nations. For example, during the 1991 Gulf War, several SAS patrols were airlifted behind Iraqi lines by Special Operations MH-53j Pavelows of the US Air Force.