Fleet Air Arm (RAN)

Fleet Air Arm
Fleet Air Arm emblem
Founded	3 July 1947
Country	Australia
Type	Naval Aviation
Part of	Royal Australian Navy
Airbase	NAS Nowra
Motto(s)	Unrivalled
Website	Royal Australian Navy – Fleet Air Arm
Commanders
Commander, Fleet Air Arm	Commodore Don Dezentje
Insignia
Roundels
White Ensign
Aircraft flown
Attack	MH-60R Seahawk
Trainer	Bell 429 Eurocopter EC135
Transport	MRH-90 Taipan

The Fleet Air Arm (FAA), known formerly^[1] as the Australian Navy Aviation Group, is the division of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) responsible for the operation of aircraft. The FAA was founded in 1947 following the purchase of two aircraft carriers from the Royal Navy. FAA personnel fought in the Korean War (operating from the carrier HMAS Sydney) and the Vietnam War (attached to a Royal Australian Air Force squadron and a United States Army Aviation company), and participated in later conflicts and operations from host warships.

Initially operating only fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters were first acquired by the FAA in 1952, forming Australia's first helicopter squadron. Helicopter usage increased over time, particularly after 1982, when the carrier HMAS Melbourne was decommissioned and not replaced. In 2000, following the removal from service of the land-based Hawker Siddeley HS 748 aircraft, the FAA became an all-helicopter force, operating in the anti-submarine warfare and maritime support roles. As of 2018, the FAA consists of five active squadrons, operating four helicopter types and two types of UAVs.