Chapter 4 - Formations, Vessels, Aircraft and Vehicles of the Armed Forces
                               
Table 4.4 Number of Regiments and Squadrons in selected Joint Units, at 1 April each year
Excludes Operational Conversion Units which train qualified aircrew for different aircraft types.
 
Joint Units   2005   2006   2007   2008   2009   2010   2011  
Special Forces
   Special Air Service Regiments 1   1   1   1   1   1   1  
   Special Air Service - Territorial Army Regiments 2   2   2   2   2   2   2  
   Special Boat Service Squadrons1 4   4   4   4   4   4   4  
   Special Forces Support Group Battalion Battalions -   1 2 1   1   1   1   1  
 
Joint Nuclear Biological Chemical Regiments 1   1   1   1   1   1   1  
 
Joint Helicopter Command   2005   2006   2007   2008   2009   2010   2011  
Royal Navy Helicopter Squadrons1 4   4   4   4   4   4   4  
 
Army Aviation3 Regiments 5   5   5   5   5   5   5  
Army Aviation - Territorial Army Regiments 1   1   2 4 2   1 5 1   1  
 
Royal Air Force Helicopter Squadrons1 5   5   5   6 6 6   6   6  
Royal Auxiliary Air Force 7 Squadrons1 1   1   1   1   1   1   1  
 
Joint Special Forces Air Wing Unit 1   1   1   1   1   1   1  
 
Joint Force Harrier   2005   2006   2007   2008   2009   2010   2011  
Royal Navy Squadrons1 1   1   2   2   2   1 8 - 10
Royal Air Force Squadrons1 3   2   2   2   2   1 9 - 11
 
Source: MOD Resources and Plans
 
1. The term "squadron" has different meanings among the three Services: see Glossary for details.
2. The Special Forces Support Group was formed as a result of the Ministerial Announcement on 16 Dec 2004 as part of The Future Army Structure. It is a Tri-Service Unit based on 1 PARA, to provide specialist support to Special Forces.
3. These figures exclude the School of Army Aviation, 667 (D&T) Sqn and 657 Sqn and three independent Army Air Corps flights (7, 25 and 29 Flts).
4. 6 Regt AAC(V) formed on 1 April 2007.
5. 7 Regt AAC(V) was disbanded 31 March 09.
6. Reflects the standing up of 78 Sqn RAF to accommodate the endorsed increase in Merlin Mk3 crews and aircraft.
7. Helicopter Support Squadron provides a pool of trained personnel to provide combat service support to the Support Helicopter Force in training and on operations in times of crisis and war.
8. On the reduction in the Joint Force Harrier force from 1 April 2010, the Fleet Air Arm Strike Wing was counted as 1 Sqn.
9. 20 Sqn was disbanded 31 March 2010.
10. 800 RNAS was disbanded on 28 January 2011.
11. 1 Sqn was disbanded on 28 January 2011.