Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton KCB ADC FREng
How we are organised
Learn how the different elements of the RAF fit together to deliver air and space power for the UK.
Learn how the different elements of the RAF fit together to deliver air and space power for the UK.
Our People
33,840Regular & Reserve Personnel
63Roles
It all starts with our people. The RAF is a team of regular and reserve personnel, civilians, and our partners.
Most RAF personnel belong to a Squadron or Unit, and all have a rank such as Squadron Leader.
The RAF is a collaboration of many dedicated professions, including pilots, aviation engineers, RAF Police, air traffic controllers, and nurses.
There are three different rank structures in the RAF.
The RAF is a Whole Force team of:
Commissioned Officers fill the RAF’s equivalent to management and supervisory roles all the way up to Senior Leadership.
Non-Commissioned Aircrew fly in the aircraft with Commissioned Aircrew.
Airmen and Airwomen have the specialist skills for both technical and non-technical roles and make up the majority of RAF personnel. Non-Commissioned Officers also fill management and supervisory roles.
Discover our people's stories
Acting Corporal Platts
Whilst on Typhoon Display Public Relations Team, I was lucky enough to travel to Silverstone for the 2023 Formula One Aramco British Grand Prix.
Flight Lieutenant Price
My career highlight is carrying the Union Jack at the British Formula 1 race in Silverstone.
Air Specialist (Class 1) Skinner
I was fortunate enough to be selected to attend this year's Vixen Eagle adventure training scheme in Bavaria where I came away with a Foundation Level 1 qualification in Nordic Skiing.
RAF Stations
33UK RAF Stations
4Overseas RAF Stations
RAF stations (often called 'bases') are home to our Wings. We have stations around the UK and in Gibraltar, Cyprus, the Falkland Islands, and Ascension Islands to protect UK interests.
Not all stations are flying stations. For example, RAF Fylingdales in North Yorkshire is a ballistic missile early warning radar station.
We also share some stations with the Army and civilian authorities, such as RAF(U) Swanwick in Hampshire, which we share with the civilian National Air Traffic Services (NATS) organisation.
Stations also parent smaller RAF sites such as radar heads, relief airfields, and test ranges. Most RAF stations have a Commanding Officer who is responsible for the day-to-day running of their station.
Stations are usually part of a Group.
Squadrons & Units
86Active Squadrons
32Units
RAF squadrons can fly aircraft or be ground based, carrying out many roles including combat, training, reconnaissance, and equipment testing.
RAF Global Enablement have squadrons that are dedicated to providing the critical capabilities required to Enable and Protect the RAF at home and abroad.
Squadrons are typically sub-divided into smaller Flights, each performing a specific role in that squadron, such as physical education.
Flying squadrons are usually commanded by a Wing Commander, while other squadrons are usually commanded by a Squadron Leader.
The RAF has many specialised units, for example the Joint Air Delivery Test and Evaluation Unit.
Some units comprise only a few people while others, like 90 Signals Unit, have many more personnel.
Squadrons and Units can be stood up or stood down as required. For example, the famous 617 Squadron 'Dambusters' stood back up in 2018 to fly the RAF's new Lightning aircraft.
Wings
A Wing is typically made up of about three squadrons and units and is based on RAF stations in the UK and overseas.
There are different types of RAF Wings, including Administrative, Training, Support, Policing, Global Enablement, Operational, and Tactical.
Expeditionary Air Wings (EAWs) are an amalgamation of aircraft, crew, engineers, technicians and support staff deployed on operations around the globe to support a specific operation.
There are also Global Enablement capabilities, made by combining the RAF Force Protection, Support Forces, Air Command and Control, Policing, Medical and Communications; who deploy specialised skills to support global operations.
Wings are usually commanded by a Wing Commander and several wings form a Group.
Groups
No 1 Group's crest
We are organised into large groups which cover frontline operations, logistics, and training. There are currently four RAF groups.
We also form Expeditionary Air Groups (EAGs) to deliver operations overseas.
Each group is commanded by an Air Vice-Marshal or Air Commodore.
Senior Commanders
The RAF is run by a team of senior commanders, responsible for our people, equipment, and infrastructure.
The RAF's senior commanders are led by the Chief of the Air Staff.
Chief of the Air Staff
The Chief of the Air Staff is accountable to the Secretary of State for Defence for the RAF's fighting effectiveness, efficiency and morale.
He reports to the Chief of the Defence Staff, who sits on the Defence Board. The Defence Board is the highest committee in the Ministry of Defence (MOD).