page_title: Army Air Corps (United Kingdom)
section_title: Command and units
hierarchical_section_title: Army Air Corps (United Kingdom) / Current structure and deployment / Command and units
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Positionskarte des Vereinigten Königreichs Quadratische Plattkarte, N-S-Streckung 170&#160;%. Geographische Begrenzung der Karte: N: 61.0° N S: 49.0° N W: 11.0° W O: 2.2° O English: Location map of the United Kingdom Equirectangular projection, N/S stretching 170&#160;%. Geographic limits of the map: N: 61.0° N S: 49.0° N W: 11.0° W E: 2.2° E
context_page_description: The Army Air Corps is a component of the British Army, first formed in 1942 during the Second World War by grouping the various airborne units of the British Army. Today, there are eight regiments of the AAC as well as four Independent Flights and two Independent Squadrons deployed in support of British Army operations across the world. They are located in Britain, Brunei, Canada, and Germany. Some AAC squadrons provide the air assault elements of 16 Air Assault Brigade through Joint Helicopter Command.
context_section_description: The AAC regiments will be consolidated into the following structure:
  1st Aviation Brigade
  Aviation Reconnaissance Force
  1 Regiment AAC, RNAS Yeovilton |  Wildcat AH.1
  659 Squadron
  661 Squadron
  652 Squadron (OCU)
  5 Regiment AAC, Aldergrove |  Gazelle
  651 Squadron – aircraft transferred to RAF April 2019
  665 Squadron
  Wattisham Flying Station Headquarters (WFS HQ), formerly the Attack Helicopter Force (AHF) (Supporting 3rd (UK) Division, 16 Air Assault Brigade and Royal Marines) Wattisham |  Apache AH.1
  3 Regiment AAC
  662 Squadron
  663 Squadron
  653 Squadron (OCU)
  4 Regiment AAC
  656 Squadron
  664 Squadron
  Army Reserves
  6 Regiment AAC
  RHQ/HQ Squadron, Bury St. Edmunds
  675 Squadron, Taunton/Yeovil
  677 Squadron, Bury St. Edmunds
  678 Squadron, Milton Keynes/Luton
  679 Squadron, Portsmouth/Middle Wallop
  Aviation Specialist Group, Middle Wallop
  Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing
  Stirling Lines | Dauphin II/Gazelle AH.1
  658 Squadron
  1 and 9 Regt AAC will merge under one headquarters (1 Regt AAC) and re-locate to RNAS Yeovilton to form a large regiment equipped with the new AgustaWestland Wildcat helicopter. The Regular component of Army Air Corps capability will consist of two regular aviation regiments equipped with Apache, one large regular aviation regiment equipped with Wildcat, and one regular manned aerial surveillance regiment, although the Gazelle out-of-service date is currently 2018 and it has not yet been confirmed whether or how the capability will be replaced. All five squadrons from 1 and 9 AAC will remain. Four squadrons will be the front line Lynx Wildcat squadrons, one (652 Squadron) will become the Wildcat Operational Conversion Squadron.
  There will be two frontline squadrons of Apache helicopters in both 3 and 4 Regiment AAC, with 3 Regiment also parenting the Apache OCU, 653 Squadron. One Regiment will be at high readiness at any one time. One of the squadrons will be attached to HMS Ocean and/or the new Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers for expeditionary operations. Another will be attached to the lead armoured battlegroup. However, under Army 2020 Refine, 3 Regiment AAC will be tasked to support the armoured infantry, and strike brigades of 3 (UK) Division and 4 Regiment AAC will support the army's 16 Air Assault Brigade and 3 Commando Brigade of the Royal Marines.
  5 Regiment may be disbanded following the future retirement of the Gazelle fleet operated by 665 Squadron and also as a consequence of the transfer in 2019 of the Defender and Islander operated by 651 Squadron to the RAF.
caption: Bases of the Army Air Corps in 2020
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