Chapter 4 - Formations, Vessels, Aircraft and Vehicles of the Armed Forces
                                           
Table 4.3 Number of squadrons in the Royal Air Force and the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, at
                     1 April each year
Excludes Operational Conversion Units which train qualified aircrew for different aircraft types.
Regular Air Force   1990     1997     2003   2004   2005   2006   2007   2008   2009  
Strike / attack Squadrons 11     6     5   5   5 }                
Offensive support1 Squadrons 5     5     2   2   1                
Reconnaissance Squadrons 3     5     5   5   5 13 2 13   11 3 11  
Air defence Squadrons 9     6     4   4   4                
                                           
Maritime patrol Squadrons 4     3     3   3   3   3   2   2   2  
                                           
Airborne Early Warning Squadrons 1     2     2   2   2 } -   -   -   -  
ISTAR (inc Airborne Early Warning) Squadrons -     -     -   -   - 3   3   4 4 4  
                                           
Air transport / Air Refuelling Squadrons 15     13     9 5 9   9   8   8   8   8  
Search and Rescue Squadrons 2     2     2   2   2   2   2   2   2  
                                           
RAF FP Wg HQs ..     ..     4   4   4   6   6   7   7  
RAF Ground based air defence6,7 Squadrons *     *     4   4   4   3   2   -   -  
RAF Regiment Field7 Squadrons *     *     6   6   6   6   6   7   7  
RAF Regt (Jt CBRN) Squadrons -     -     -   -   -   -   1   1   1  
Tactical Provost Wg HQ *     -     -   -   -   1   1   1   1  
Tactical Provost Squadrons *     -     -   -   -   2   1   1   1  
Specialist Policing Wg8 HQ *     -     -   -   -   1   1   1   1  
Specialist Policing Sqns8 Squadrons *     -     -   -   -   3   3   3   3  
 
Auxiliary Air Force   1990     1997     2003   2004   2005   2006   2007   2008   2009  
Air Movements Squadrons 1     1     1   1   1   1   1   1   1  
Aeromedical9 Squadrons 1     2     2   2   2   2   2   2   2  
HQ Augmentation Squadrons 3     3     1   1   1   1   1   1   1  
                                           
Intelligence Squadrons 2     2     2   2   2   2   2   2   2  
                                           
Photographic Interpretation Squadrons 1     1     1   1   1   1   1   1   1  
Public Relations Squadrons -     -     1   1   1   1   1   1   1  
                                           
Meteorological Squadrons 1     1     1   1   1   1   1   1   1  
                                           
RAuxAF Regt Field Squadrons 6     5     4   4   4   4   3   3   3  
FP Operations Support Squadrons -     1     4   4   4   4   4   4   4  
Tactical Provost Squadrons -     -     1   1   1   1   1   1   1  
RAuxAF Regt Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Squadrons -     -     -   -   -   1   1   1   1  
Source: MOD Resources and Plans
1.   Excludes Joint Force Harrier squadrons from 1 April 2000. See Table 4.4 - Joint units.
2.   From 2006, 4 Air Defence squadrons amalgamated with Strike/Attack, Offensive support and Reconnaisance to form multi-roled squadrons. One squadron
      moved from reconnaissance to ISTAR, one squadron was disbanded.
3.   6 Sqn (Jag) was disbanded on 30 April 07, 25 Sqn was disbanded 1 April 08. 43 Sqn also cover the role of the OCU since the disbandment of 56 Sqn,       however this is not their only role.
4.   39 Sqn was re-formed on 23 January 2008.
5.   Excludes Support Helicopter squadrons in the Joint Helicopter Command from October 1999. See Table 4.4 - Joint units.
6.   Delivery of Ground based air defence is now vested with the Army. The remaining 2 squadrons were reroled on 1 Apr 08 to increase the numbers of
      FP Wgs and Field Regts.
7.   In UKDS editions 2003 and 2004, Ground based air defence and Field Squadrons for years 2001 to 2004 were also included under Regular Air Force.
8.   Project DARWIN1 and Project BEAGLE re-brigaded Specialist Policing assets under Specialist Policing Wg in 2006.
9.   Includes Air Transportable Surgical.