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The Fleet Air Arm is the operational part of the Royal Australian Navy responsible for the operation of aircraft aboard ship. The FAA is currently an all helicopter force, operating four separate types of helicopter in both the Anti-submarine Warfare and Anti-ship roles. HISTORY During the Second World War , several squadrons of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm were manned primarily by Australian personnel. Following the war, the Royal Australian Navy determined that it was necessary to have its own air arm. As a consequence, the Fleet Air Arm was formed on July 3 1947 by order of the Commonwealth Defence Council to operate aircraft for the RAN. The primary plan was for the purchase of two Aircraft Carriers and the aircraft for them, and for the construction of the necessary shore based support facilities. HMAS ''Albatross'' , the former RAAF base at Nowra in New South Wales , was commissioned in August 1948 as the FAA's main airbase, while HMAS ''Sydney'' , a former light fleet carrier of the Royal Navy , was commissioned on December 16 1948 . In her passage from the UK, ''Sydney'' also transported the RAN's first two squadrons of aircraft (805 Squadron with Sea Furies and 816 Squadron with Fireflies ), forming the 20th Carrier Air Group. A further group, 21st Carrier Air Group, was formed in 1950 through the raising of 808 Squadron with Sea Furies and 817 Squadron with Fireflies. During 1951 and 1952 , ''Sydney'' operated as part of the United Nations taskforce during the Korean War . In 1952, HMAS ''Vengeance'' was commissioned as the RAN's second operational carrier, on loan from the Royal Navy. ''Sydney'' continued in her operational role until 1955 , when she was replaced by HMAS ''Melbourne'' . The delays in ''Melbourne'' being delivered were due to her being reconstructed with all modern advances (angled flight deck, steam catapault & mirror landing aid), enabling her to operate jets. At that time, ''Melbourne'' embarked the main carrier air wing, with ''Sydney'', unable to operate jets due to being unmodified, becoming a training ship; ''Vengeance'' was returned to the UK. Also, the FAA took delivery of its first jet aircraft, with Sea Venoms replacing the Sea Furies. Both ships saw service during the Vietnam War , with ''Sydney'' utilised as a fast troop transport. Following the Vietnam War, cutbacks saw ''Sydney'' decommissioned in 1973 . ''Melbourne'' continued in service, ultimately operating a mixture of Skyhawks , Trackers and helicopters before she too was paid off. The Liberal government had intended to replace her with HMS ''Invincible'' (planned to be renamed HMAS ''Australia'' ), which was due to be purchased from the UK in 1982 , and would also have seen the purchase of either AV-8B Harriers or Sea Harriers ; this sale was cancelled by the British government due to the Falklands War , with HMS ''Hermes'' offered instead. The defeat of the Liberals by Labor in the 1983 Federal election led to a decision not to purchase a replacement for ''Melbourne''. With no aircraft carrier, fixed wing aviation in the RAN ended. FAA TODAY Today, the Fleet Air Arm is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the RAN's helicopter force. Helicopters are operated from the frigates of the ''Adelaide'' and ''Anzac'' classes, and from the RAN's amphibious ships. Current squadrons See Also: List of Australian Fleet Air Arm flying squadrons RAN squadrons follow the same numbering system as those of the Royal Navy, with operational units numbered from 800 onwards, and training units numbered from 700 onwards:
The ''Kanimbla'' class vessels are also capable of operating S-70A Blackhawk , CH-47 Chinook and UH-1 Iroquois helicopters from the Army's 5th Aviation Regiment and regularly train with these aircraft during amphibious exercises. Current Aircraft Since 2000 , when the last pair of HS748s were retired, the Fleet Air Arm has been an entirely rotary winged force. Air defence of the fleet is primarily the task of the ''Adelaide'' class guided missile frigates, armed with the SM-2 Standard SAM ; these are supported when possible by the F/A-18 Hornets of the RAAF . The most numerous aircraft is the Sikorsky S-70B Seahawk, with sixteen operated by 816 Squadron; these operate primarily in the ASW role from the ''Adelaide'' class frigates, but have a supplementary role in search and rescue and troop transport. In 2001 , eleven SH-2G Super Seasprite helicopters were purchased to operate from the ''Anzac'' class frigates, which led to the reformation of 805 Squadron (which had been the FAA's last fast jet squadron). These operate primarily in the anti-surface warfare role. The Sea King provides the fleet's medium lift capability, but also performs over the horizon targeting for anti-surface warfare, and search and rescue capability. Prior to 1982 , the Sea King was also used in the ASW role from the aircraft carrier ''Melbourne''. The Squirrel was used in an operational capability aboard the guided missile frigates prior to the purchase of the Seahawk. Now, they are used by 723 Squadron for conversion training, as well as deployment from the RAN's hydrographic vessels. Future Aircraft The Royal Australian Navy is likely to replace the aging Sea King helicopters with a new class of medium helicopters in the near future. While the Navy is yet to select an aircraft, it is probable that the MH-90 will be selected as part a joint Army-Navy helicopter purchase (the Army currently has 12 MH-90s on order). Although there is nothing confirmed, a rumour exists that the Australian Government may increase its planned order of F-35A s ( CTOL ) for the RAAF to include a small number of F-35Bs ( STOVL ) for the RAN to be used on the proposed large Amphibious Warfare Vessels . AIRCRAFT OF THE FAA
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