Edge Rewrite
pun Source code View original
Jump to content

// Workers AI · dad joke modeDoes Fleet Requirements and Air Direction Unit have a party? It's a flight risk.

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from FRADU)

Fleet Requirements and Air Direction Unit

300px

BAE Systems Hawk T1A, of FRADU, in Royal Navy Centenary of Naval Aviation scheme

Active1 December 1972 – 6 June 2013

Country United Kingdom

Branch Royal Navy

TypeFleet Air Arm support and training unit

RoleFleet requirements and aggressor training

Part ofFleet Air Arm

Home station 

Aircraft 


The Fleet Requirements and Air Direction Unit (FRADU) was a unit of the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm which provided airborne training and simulation services to the Royal Navy and other British and allied forces. Its tasks included simulated attacks against ships during Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST), airborne early warning (AEW) exercises, electronic countermeasures exercises, fighter-controller training and helicopter fighter-affiliation training. In its later years FRADU operated BAE Systems Hawk T1/T1A aircraft from RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall.[1][2]

FRADU was formed at RNAS Yeovilton on 1 December 1972 through the merger of the Fleet Requirements Unit (FRU) and Air Direction Training Unit (ADTU), both of which had previously supported Royal Navy training and fleet requirements under civilian contract.[1] The unit was initially known as the Fleet Requirements and Air Direction Training Unit (FRADTU), with “Training” subsequently removed from the title.[3]

FRADU moved from Yeovilton to Culdrose in 1995 and continued operating there until it was stood down on 6 June 2013. Its role was transferred to the re-formed 736 Naval Air Squadron, which continued operating Hawk aircraft in the maritime aggressor role.[4][5]

Origins

[edit]

Fleet Requirements Unit

[edit]

The Fleet Requirements Unit was one of the predecessors of FRADU. An Airwork-operated Fleet Requirements Unit was established at Hurn in 1952 after Airwork secured a Royal Navy contract in September of that year. The unit used ex-Fleet Air Arm aircraft to provide airborne targets and other training support, with civilian pilots operating the aircraft.[1][6]

The FRU operated a succession of former Fleet Air Arm and Royal Air Force aircraft. These included the de Havilland Mosquito, de Havilland Sea Hornet, Hawker Sea Fury, Supermarine Attacker, Hawker Sea Hawk, Gloster Meteor, Supermarine Scimitar, Hawker Hunter and English Electric Canberra.[1]

The Hunter entered FRU service in 1969, while Canberra aircraft were also introduced from 1969. The latter were used in target-towing and other training roles. The FRU subsequently operated alongside the Air Direction Training Unit at RNAS Yeovilton before the two organisations were merged in 1972.[1]

Air Direction Training Unit

[edit]

The second predecessor of FRADU was the Air Direction Training Unit. The Air Direction School was established to train Royal Navy personnel in the control and direction of fighter aircraft. Airwork operated aircraft in support of the school, initially including the de Havilland Sea Hornet and de Havilland Mosquito, followed by the Supermarine Attacker and Gloster Meteor. The unit subsequently operated de Havilland Sea Venom aircraft and moved to RNAS Yeovilton in 1961, later receiving Hunters and de Havilland Sea Vixens.[1][7]

The ADTU’s purpose complemented that of the FRU: it provided aircraft with which naval personnel could practise fighter direction and air-defence control. Its aircraft therefore acted as realistic airborne targets and opponents for personnel being trained in the direction and control of naval fighters.[7]

Formation and early years

[edit]

The Fleet Requirements and Air Direction Training Unit (FRADTU) was formed in 1972 by the merger of the Fleet Requirements Unit (FRU) and the Air Direction Training Unit ADTU which were operated by Airwork Services for the RN.

In 1983, the contract for FRADU was offered to competitive tender; the contract was won by Flight Refuelling Ltd, Hurn.

The FRADU moved from RNAS Yeovilton, its home since 1972, to RNAS Culdrose in December 1995.

Aircraft

[edit]
  • Dassault Falcon 20 (twin-jet)
  • Hawker Hunter, GA.11, RNAS Yeovilton, December 1972 to May 1995
  • Hawker Hunter, T.7/T.8/T.8C, RNAS Yeovilton, December 1972 to May 1995
  • Hawker Hunter, T.8M (3 reworked Hunter T.8Cs fitted with the Sea Harrier's Blue Fox radar), RNAS Yeovilton, March 1983 to December 1994 (Note: Operated by 899NAS though still maintained by FRADU's engineers).
  • English Electric Canberra TT.18, RNAS Yeovilton, December 1972 to November 1992
  • de Havilland Sea Vixen, RNAS Yeovilton, December 1972 to February 1974
  • Canberra T.4, RNAS Yeovilton, December 1972 to April 1986
  • Canberra T.22 (reworked Canberra PR.7), RNAS Yeovilton, November 1973 to September 1985
  • BAE Systems Hawk T1 advanced jet trainer, RNAS Yeovilton, April 1994-November 1995. RNAS Culdrose, December 1995-June 2013.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]

Citations

[edit]
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, p. 411.
  2. ↑ Bond 2021, pp. 141–147.
  3. ↑ "FRADU History". FRADU.info. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
  4. ↑ "Hawk History". FRADU.info. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
  5. ↑ "Navy Hawk gets new boss". Royal Navy. 19 January 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
  6. ↑ "Airwork Woolleyfamily". www.woolleyfamily.co.uk. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
  7. 1 2 Bond 2021, pp. 141–142.

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Ballance, Theo; Howard, Lee; Sturtivant, Ray (2016). The Squadrons and Units of the Fleet Air Arm. Air-Britain Historians Ltd. ISBN 978-0-85130-489-2.
  • Bond, Steve (2021). Fleet Air Arm Boys: True Tales from Royal Navy Men and Women Air and Ground Crew, Volume 2: Strike, Anti-Submarine, Early Warning and Support Aircraft since 1945. Grub Street. ISBN 978-1-911667-17-9.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fleet_Requirements_and_Air_Direction_Unit&oldid=1368740923"