1st Aviation Brigade

1st Aviation Brigade harnesses the speed, reach and lethality of Combat Aviation to seize, retain and exploit the initiative to gain and maintain a position of relative advantage.

Formed: 1 April 2020

Personnel: 2,700+

Aircraft: 92

We provide the Army with deployable and scalable aviation Command and Control at readiness:

  • Deliver combat aviation forces for assigned operations, Defence Activity other than Operations and sub-threshold competition
  • Provide scalable and agile multi-domain Command and Control capable of integrating with both National and Allied formations at Divisional, Corps and Joint Force level
  • Generate, project and sustain forces for directed readiness
  • Ex Spring Storm, Ex Hedgehog - Estonia
  • Op Peleda, Ex Iron Wolf, Ex Sabre Strike- Lithuania
  • Ex Clockwork, Ex JEF Warrior - Norway
  • Ex Swift Response - North Macedonia
  • Ex Cerberus - Land Regional Hub (LRH)(Germany)
  • Ex Khanjar Oman - LRH (Oman)
  • Ex Warfighter - Texas, USA
  • Ex Chameleon - UK & Sweden
  • Ex Cobra Warrior - UK
  • Ex Orthrus- UK
  • Ex Wessex Storm - Salisbury Plain, UK
  • Ex Pegasus Amarante - UK/LRH (Germany)

Brigade Support Group

The Brigade Support Group (BSG) delivers second-line Combat Service Support to 1 Avn BCT. 7 Aviation Support Battalion REME will form the nucleus of the BSG, integrating regular Equipment Support capabilities with reserve logistic, medical and tri-service specialist capabilities.

  • Reach: The BSG is able to support the BCT from sea or air to first-line on land. 
  • Size: The BSG can be scaled to be appropriate to the deployment; it can be up to 800 personnel, occupying an area of up to 6km².
  • Key Strengths
    • Specialist knowledge of aviation Combat Service Support
    • Assurance required in materiel supply
    • Supply of bulk ammunition and fuel demanded by the BCT
    • Stability required for equipment support

1 Aviation Brigade Formed

Initial Operating Capability (IOC) - At the minimum level at which the capability is usefully deployable.

1st Aviation Brigade re-designated to 1st Aviation Brigade Combat Team. The Brigade Combat Team will integrate specialist capabilities more routinely at lower level than previously, creating self-sufficient tactical units more capable of working with partners across government, allies and industry.

Full Operating Capability (FOC) - Following Headquarters validation on Ex Cerberus 22.

  • Attained all units in force structure, as per Future Soldier Structure.
  • The ability to employ & maintain all aspects.

Our Locations

  • 1st Aviation Brigade Combat Team HQ

    Middle Wallop

  • 1 Regiment AAC

    RNAS Yeovilton

  • 3 Regiment AAC

    Wattisham Flying Station

  • 4 Regiment AAC

    Wattisham Flying Station

  • 5 Regiment AAC

    Aldergrove

  • 6 Regiment AAC

    Reserves

    Headquarters - Bury St Edmunds

  • 7 Aviation Sp Bn REME

    Wattisham Flying Station