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Fleet Requirements and Aircraft Direction Unit

The Fleet Requirements and Air Direction Unit (FRADU) was a unit of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm operated by the contractor Serco Defence and Aerospace. It was established in 1972.[1] It was most recently equipped with 13 BAE Systems Hawk T1 advanced jet trainer aircraft on lease to the Royal Navy from the Royal Air Force, based at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall. Two of these aircraft were permanently detached to Naval Flying Standards Flight (fixed wing) at RNAS Yeovilton where they are flown by RN pilots, but maintained by Serco engineers.

BAE Systems Hawk T1A, of the Fleet Requirements and Development Unit (FRADU), in Royal Navy Centenary of Naval Aviation scheme

FRADU provided training for the Royal Navy by conducting simulated attacks on Royal Navy ships during Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST), Airborne Early Warning (AEW) exercises, training air controllers and Helicopter Fighter Affiliation training.

In June 2013, FRADU was redesignated 736 Naval Air Squadron.[2]

History

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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

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  • 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

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References

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  1. ^ "History of the FRADU". Archived from the original on 22 June 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
  2. ^ "Air branch reserve pilot clocks up 4000 hours". Royal Navy. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
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