5 Regiment traces its origin to the Northern Ireland Regiment formed on 1 November 1979 at RAF Aldergrove.[2][3] On 1 October 1993, the Northern Ireland Regiment was renamed 5 Regiment AAC.[2]
The regiment consisted of No. 655 (The Scottish Horse) Squadron AAC, No. 665 Squadron AAC and 1 Flight AAC.[4] 655 Squadron operated the
Westland Lynx AH7 helicopter.[5] 665 Squadron operated the
Westland Gazelle AH1 helicopter.[6] 1 Flight operated the fixed wing
Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander aircraft which had entered service on 10 March 1989.[7]
The primary task of 1 Flight was photo reconnaissance under the direction of the Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre (Northern Ireland) (RIC(NI).[8][9] In 2000, the (RIC(NI)) was renamed the Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre and Geographic Centre (Northern Ireland) (RIGC(NI)).[9]
In March 2007, 655 Squadron was disbanded as
Operation Banner was drawing to a close and due to a need to reduce the Lynx fleet set to be retired in 2012.[10][11] The Lynx aircraft of 655 remained at RAF Aldergrove and was operated by 665 Squadron through to the end of Operation Banner on 31 July 2007.[11][10] On 1 August 2007,
Operation Helvetic commenced with 665 Squadron operating the Gazelle and 1 Flight operating the Islander.[12]
In July 2008, No. 651 Squadron of
1 Regiment AAC moved to RAF Aldergrove and became part of 5 Regiment.[13] 651 Squadron had been re-raised in 2006 at
RAF Odiham to operate the
Britten-Norman Defender fixed wing aircraft which had entered service in March 2004.[14][15] 1 Flight was integrated into 651 Squadron following the squadron's move to Aldergrove.[14][16]
In 2009, RAF Aldergrove was renamed Joint Helicopter Command Flying Station Aldergrove.[17] In 2010, the tri-service RIGC(NI) became part of 5 Regiment.[9] In 2018, the RIGC(NI) was renamed No. 3 Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Squadron and transferred to the
Royal Air Force as part of
No. 1 Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Wing.[18][19]
^Hay, Air Cdre Nick (2019). Michell, Simon (ed.).
"ISTAR evolution". Air & Space Power 2019 Multi-Domain Operations for the Next Generation Air Force. Essex: Global Media Partners: 75. Retrieved 13 August 2021.