Structure of the British Armed Forces

This is the structure of the British Armed Forces, as of October 2021.

Ministry of Defence

• Ministry of Defence, at Main Building, Whitehall
  • Secretary of State for Defence, The Rt. Hon. Ben Wallace MP
    • Minister of State for Defence Procurement, Jeremy Quin MP
    • Minister of State for Defence, The Rt. Hon. The Baroness Goldie
    • Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces, James Heappey MP
    • Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence People and Veterans, Johnny Mercer MP
  • Defence Council of the United Kingdom
    • Defence Board
    • Admiralty Board
    • Army Board
    • Air Force Board
  • Chiefs of Staff Committee
    • Chief of the Defence Staff, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin
      • Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Military Strategy and Operations), Lieutenant General Douglas Chalmers
      • Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Financial and Military Capability), Air Marshal Richard Knighton
      • Chief of Defence People, Lieutenant General James Swift
    • Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff, General Gwyn Jenkins
    • First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Sir Ben Key
    • Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Patrick Sanders
    • Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Wigston
    • Commander Strategic Command, General Sir James Hockenhull

Defence Infrastructure Organisation

• Headquarters, Defence Infrastructure Organisation, at Sutton Coldfield –to move to DMS Whittington in 2021
  • Ministry of Defence Guard Service
  • Northern Ireland Security Guard Service
  • Defence Fire and Rescue Service, at Marlborough Lines
  • Defence Training Estate, at Waterloo Lines
    • Headquarters, Defence Training Estate Wales & West Midlands, at Sennybridge Training Area
    • Headquarters, Defence Training Estate South East, at Hythe
    • Headquarters, Defence Training Estate South West, at Wyvern Barracks
    • Headquarters, Defence Training Estate North East, at Wathgill Camp
    • Headquarters, Defence Training Estate North West, at Warcop Training Area
    • Headquarters, Defence Training Estate East, at West Tofts Camp
    • Headquarters, Defence Training Estate Scotland, at Forthside Barracks
    • Headquarters, Salisbury Plain Training Area, at Westdown Camp

Defence Equipment and Support

• Headquarters, Defence Equipment and Support, at MoD Abbey Wood
  • British Forces Post Office, at RAF Northolt
  • Defence Equipment Sales Authority, at MoD Bicester
  • Defence Standardization, at Kentigern House, Glasgow
  • Defence Munitions
    • RNAD Coulport
    • DM Crombie
    • DM Beith
    • DM Plymouth
    • DM Glen Douglas
    • DM Gosport
    • DM Kineton

Defence Science and Technology Laboratory

• Headquarters, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, at Porton Down
  • DSTL Fort Halstead
  • DSTL Portsdown West
    • Defence Wargaming Centre
  • DSTL Alverstoke
  • DSTL Sandridge
  • DSTL Langhurst

Ministry of Defence Police

• Headquarters, Ministry of Defence Police, at MDP Wethersfield
  • Criminal Investigation Department, at MDP Wethersfield
  • Nuclear Guard Force
  • Special Escort Group, at AWE Aldermaston
  • Operational Support Units
    • Operational Support Unit North, at RAF Linton-on-Ouse
    • Operational Support Unit South, at MDP Wethersfield
  • Central Support Groups
    • Central Support Group Aldershot, at Aldershot Garrison
    • Central Support Group Bicester, at MoD Bicester
    • Central Support Group Scotland, at HMNB Clyde
  • Headquarters, Nuclear Division, at MoD Abbey Wood
  • Headquarters, Territorial Division, at Imphal Barracks

Defence Safety Authority

• Headquarters, Defence Safety Authority, at Main Building, Whitehall
  • Military Aviation Authority, at MoD Abbey Wood
  • Military Air Accident Investigation Branch
  • Land Accident Prevention and Investigation Team
  • Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator
  • Defence Maritime Regulator
  • Defence Ordnance, Munitions and Explosives Safety Regulator
  • Defence Land Systems Safety Regulator
    • Land Systems Safety Regulator
    • Defence Movement and Transport Safety Regulator
    • Defence Fuel and Gas Safety Regulator
    • Defence Fire Safety Regulator

Defence Nuclear Organisation

• Headquarters, Defence Nuclear Organisation, at Main Building, Whitehall
  • Warhead Directorate

Defence Business Services

• Headquarters, Defence Business Services, at MoD Abbey Wood
  • DBS Civilian HR

Defence Electronics and Components Agency

• Headquarters, Defence Electronics and Components Agency, at MoD Sealand

Oil and Pipelines Agency

• Headquarters, Oil and Pipelines Agency, at Petty France, Westminster
  • Campbeltown Oil Fuel Depot
  • Garelochhead Oil Fuel Depot, at HMNB Clyde
  • Gosport Oil Fuel Depot, at HMNB Portsmouth
  • Loch Ewe Oil Fuel Depot
  • Loch Striven Oil Fuel Depot
  • Thanckes Oil Fuel Depot, at HMNB Devonport
  • Plumley and Cape of Good Hope (oil storage)

United Kingdom Hydrographic Office

• Headquarters, United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, at Taunton

Submarine Delivery Agency

• Headquarters, Submarine Delivery Agency, at

Service Prosecuting Authority

• Headquarters, Service Prosecuting Authority, at RAF Northolt

Non-departmental Organisations

• Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust
• Single Source Regulations Office, at Finlaison House, London
• Advisory Committee on Conscientious Objectors
• Armed Forces' Pay Review Body
• Defence Nuclear Safety Committee
• Independent Medical Expert Group
• Nuclear Research Advisory Council
• Scientific Advisory Committee on the Medical Implications of Less-Lethal Weapons
• Defence Science Expert Committee
• Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees
• Advisory Group on Military Medicine
• Defence and Security Media Advisory Committee
• Service Complaints Ombudsman
• United Kingdom Reserve Forces Association
• National Army Museum, at Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea
• National Museum of the Royal Navy
  • National Museum of the Royal Navy Hartlepool, at Jackson Dock, Hartlepool
  • National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth, at HMNB Portsmouth
  • Royal Marines Museum, at HMNB Portsmouth
  • Royal Navy Submarine Museum, Gosport
  • Fleet Air Arm Museum, at RNAS Yeovilton
  • Explosion! Museum of Naval Firepower, at Gosport
• Royal Air Force Museum
  • Royal Air Force Museum London, at Hendon Aerodrome
  • Royal Air Force Museum Cosford, at RAF Cosford

Reserve Forces and Cadets Association

• East Anglia Reserve Forces and Cadets Association
• East Midlands Reserve Forces and Cadets Association
• Greater London Reserve Forces and Cadets Association
• Highland Reserve Forces and Cadets Association
• Lowland Reserve Forces and Cadets Association
• Northern Ireland Reserve Forces and Cadets Association
• North of England Reserve Forces and Cadets Association
• North West of England and Isle of Man Reserve Forces and Cadets Association
• South East Reserve Forces and Cadets Association
• South West Reserve Forces and Cadets Association
• Wales Reserve Forces and Cadets Association
• Wessex Reserve Forces and Cadets Association
• West Midlands Reserve Forces and Cadets Association
• Yorkshire and the Humber Reserve Forces and Cadets Association

Strategic Command

• Headquarters, Strategic Command, at Northwood Headquarters, Eastbury
  • Defence Digital, at MoD Corsham
    • ISS Boddington
  • Joint Arms Control Implementation Group, at RAF Henlow
  • Joint Counter-Terrorism Training and Advisory Team, at Risborough Barracks
  • Development, Concepts and Doctrine Centre, at MoD Shrivenham

Permanent Joint Operating Bases

• British Forces Cyprus
  • Joint Service Signal Unit (Cyprus), at Ayios Nikolaos Station
  • Cyprus Communications Unit, at RAF Akrotiri
  • Cyprus Operations Support Unit, at RAF Akrotiri
  • Cyprus Joint Police Unit, at Episkopi Cantonment
  • Joint Services Health Unit, at RAF Akrotiri
  • No. 84 Squadron RAF, at RAF Akrotiri, (Bell Griffin HAR2)
  • 1st Battalion, Royal Anglian Regiment, at Dhekelia Cantonment
  • 2nd Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment, at Episkopi Cantonment
  • Cyprus Military Working Dog Troop, at Episkopi Cantonment
  • Sovereign Base Areas Police, HQ at Episkopi Cantonment
• British Forces South Atlantic Islands, at RAF Mount Pleasant
  • Naval Party 2010, at Mare Harbour
  • HMS Forth, at Mare Harbour
  • Anzio Company, 1st Battalion, Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (Roulement Infantry Company (RIC), as of March 2022)
  • 32 (Minden) Battery, 16th Regiment, RA, (Sky Sabre) (Air defence battery), as of December 2021
  • Falkland Islands Joint Logistics Unit
  • Engineer Unit
  • Falkland Islands Support Unit
  • Joint Communications Unit Falkland Islands
  • Joint Services Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit
  • Joint Services Provost and Security Unit
  • Joint Services Signals Unit
  • No. 905 Expeditionary Air Wing RAF
    • No. 1312 Flight RAF, (A400M Atlas, Voyager KC2)
    • No. 1435 Flight RAF, (Eurofighter Typhoon)
• British Forces Gibraltar
  • Royal Gibraltar Regiment, at Devil's Tower Camp
  • Gibraltar Squadron, RN, at Port of Gibraltar
  • RAF Gibraltar
  • Joint Provost and Security Unit, at Gibdock
  • Gibraltar Defence Police, at Gibdock
• British Forces British Indian Ocean Territories, at Diego Garcia
  • Naval Party 1002, at Diego Garcia

Defence Intelligence

• Headquarters, Defence Intelligence, at Main Building, Whitehall, (Lieutenant General James Hockenhull)
  • Joint Forces Cyber Group
    • Joint Cyber Unit (Reserve), at Northwood Headquarters
      • Reserve Cyber Unit, Royal Naval Reserve
      • No. 600 (City of London) Squadron RAuxAF, at RAF Northolt
      • No. 614 (County of Glamorgan) Squadron RAuxAF, at Cardiff
      • Land Information Assurance Group, (British Army), at MoD Corsham
  • Joint Forces Intelligence Group, at RAF Wyton
    • Defence Intelligence Fusion Centre, at RAF Wyton
    • National Centre for Geospatial Intelligence, at RAF Wyton
    • Defence Geographic Centre, at MoD Feltham
    • Joint Services Signals Organisation, at RAF Digby
    • Defence HUMINT Unit
    • Joint Aeronautical and Geospatial Organisation, at RAF Wyton
    • No. 1 Aeronautical Information Documents Unit
  • Joint Intelligence Training Group, at RAF Chicksands
    • Defence College of Intelligence, at RAF Chicksands
    • Defence School of Photography, at RAF Cosford
    • Royal School of Military Survey, at Denison Barracks

Defence Medical Services

• Headquarters, Defence Medical Services, at DMS Whittington, (Peter Homa)
  • Surgeon-General of the UK Armed Forces, (Major General Timothy Hodgetts)
  • Director of Medical Personnel and Training, (Air Vice-Marshal Clare Walton)
    • Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham
      • Defence School of Healthcare Education, at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham
      • Defence Medical Academy, at DMS Whittington
  • Director Healthcare Delivery and Training (Major General Paul Cain)
    • Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre, at Stanford Hall
    • Defence Primary Healthcare
  • Joint Hospital Group
    • James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough
    • John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford
    • Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead
    • Frimley Park Hospital, Frimley
    • Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, Chelsea
    • Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth
    • Derriford Hospital, Plymouth

Directorate of Joint Capability

• Headquarters, Joint Capability

Directorate of Joint Warfare

• Headquarters, Joint Warfare
  • Joint Information Activities Group, at RAF Halton

Directorate of Resources and Policy

• Headquarters, Resources and Policy

Directorate Defence Logistics and Support

• Headquarters, Defence Logistics and Support

Directorate of Special Forces

• Headquarters, United Kingdom Special Forces, at Main Building, Whitehall
  • Special Boat Service, at RM Poole
  • 21 Special Air Service Regiment (Artists) (Reserve), at Regent's Park Barracks
  • 22 Special Air Service Regiment, at Stirling Lines
  • 23 Special Air Service Regiment (Reserve), at Birmingham
  • Special Reconnaissance Regiment, at Stirling Lines
  • Special Forces Support Group, at MOD St Athan
  • 18 (UKSF) Signal Regiment, at Stirling Lines
  • Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing, at RAF Odiham
    • No. 7 Squadron RAF, at RAF Odiham, (Chinook HC6)
    • No. 658 Squadron, AAC, at Stirling Lines, (AS365 Dauphin)
    • Special Forces Flight, No. 47 Squadron RAF, at RAF Brize Norton

Defence Academy of the United Kingdom

• Headquarters, Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, at MoD Shrivenham
  • Royal College of Defence Studies, at Seaford House
  • Joint Services Command and Staff College, at Watchfield
  • Armed Forces Chaplaincy Centre, at Beckett House
  • Defence Centre of Training Support, at RAF Halton
  • Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme
    • Taurus Squadron, at Birmingham, (Aston, Birmingham, and Oxford Universities)
    • Thunderer Squadron, at Southampton, (Southampton and Portsmouth Universities, and Imperial College London)
    • Trojan Squadron, at Newcastle upon Tyne, (Newcastle, Northumbria, and Strathclyde Universities)
    • Typhoon Squadron, at Loughborough, (Loughborough, and Cambridge Universities)
  • Defence Engagement School, at MoD Shrivenham
    • Defence Centre for Languages and Culture, at MoD Shrivenham
    • Defence Attaché and Loan Service Centre, at MoD Shrivenham
  • Nuclear Department, at HMS Sultan
  • Technology School, at MoD Shrivenham
  • Defence Leadership Centre, at MoD Shrivenham
  • Business Skills College, at MoD Shrivenham
  • Centre of Air Safety Training

Permanent Joint Headquarters

• Permanent Joint Headquarters, at Northwood Headquarters
  • Standing Joint Force Headquarters, at Northwood Headquarters
    • Standing Joint Force Logistics Component Headquarters, at Northwood Headquarters

Royal Navy

• Strength: 34,040 Regular, 4,130 Maritime Reserve, 7,960 Royal Fleet Reserve; 87 Ships, 174 Aircraft
• Headquarters, Navy Command, at HMS Excellent, Whale Island
  • First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Sir Ben Key
    • Second Sea Lord and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Nicholas Hine
    • Fleet Commander, Vice Admiral Andrew Burns
    • Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Policy), Rear Admiral Iain Lower
    • Finance Director (Navy), Nick Donlevy
    • Warrant Officer to the Royal Navy, Warrant Officer Class One Carl Steedman

British Army

• Strength: 82,230 regulars, 30,040 Army Reserve
• Army Headquarters, at Marlborough Lines
  • Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith
    • Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant-General Sir Christopher Tickell
    • Commander Field Army, Lieutenant-General Ralph Wooddisse
    • Commander Home Command, Lieutenant-General Ian Cave
    • Commander Allied Rapid Reaction Corps, Lieutenant-General Sir Edward Smyth-Osbourne
    • Army Sergeant Major, Warrant Officer Class One Paul Carney

Royal Air Force

• Strength: 33,200 Regular, 1,940 RAuxAF, 3,300 Reserve; 832 aircraft
• Royal Air Force, at RAF High Wycombe
  • Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Wigston
    • Assistant Chief of the Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Simon Edwards
    • Deputy Commander (Operations), Air Marshal Gerry Mayhew
    • Deputy Commander (Capability), Air Marshal Andrew Turner
    • Air Member for Materiel and Chief of Materiel, Vice Admiral Richard Thompson
    • Warrant Officer of the Royal Air Force, Warrant Officer Murugesvaran Subramaniam

References