The number of helicopters utilised by the Royal Navy, Army Air Corps and Royal Air Force which are in the Forward Fleet and considered Fit for Purpose are detailed in the following table. Forward Fleet aircraft are those that are available to the Front Line Command for operational and training purposes (i.e. those not in depth maintenance). Aircraft defined as Fit for Purpose are those considered capable of carrying out their planned missions on a given date.
Forward Fleet Fit for Purpose Royal Navy 121 63 Army Air Corps 166 106 Royal Air Force 82 53
The figures shown are the average for the month of September 2007. The number of helicopters Fit for Purpose will vary from day to day due, primarily, to routine maintenance requirements. Operational capability is measured in terms of flying hours rather than the number of airframes available.
These figures do not include the six RAF Merlin helicopters recently acquired from Denmark or the eight RAF Chinook Mark 3 helicopters that are being converted to a Battlefield Support role, as announced by the Secretary of State on 30 March 2007.