TL;DR
RAF Regiment Gunners serve as airfield defence and force protection infantry — exposed to small arms, machine guns, mortars, air defence weapons, and the constant noise of fast jet operations. Former and serving RAF Regiment personnel can bring a hearing loss claim against the MoD where hearing protection was inadequate. Compensation ranges from £8,560 to £133,810 under the [Judicial College Guidelines](https://www.judiciary.gov.uk/publications/guidelines-for-the-assessment-of-general-damages-in-personal-injury-cases/) (17th Edition, 2024). No minimum service period. No win, no fee. The MoD settlement scheme closes **the scheme deadline that applies to your circumstances**.
RAF Regiment Gunners occupy a distinctive position: they are the ground combat force of the Royal Air Force, serving as infantry in the airfield defence and force protection role. They train and deploy like soldiers — with the full range of small arms, heavy weapons, and combat engineering exposure — but do so as part of the RAF, and additionally live and work in some of the most noise-intensive environments in the armed forces: active airfields operating fast jets.
Many RAF Regiment veterans carry hearing loss or tinnitus from a career that combined infantry-type noise with airfield acoustics. Both sources of exposure are compensable if the MoD failed to provide adequate protection.
What noise sources do RAF Regiment Gunners face?
Noise-induced hearing loss in RAF Regiment personnel arises from two distinct environments:
Infantry and weapons training. RAF Regiment Gunners train to the same standard as Army infantry and carry the same weapons. Small arms (SA80 A2, L85A2), the L110A3 light machine gun, the GPMG in both light and sustained fire roles, and L16 81mm mortars are all regular training and exercise tools. Weapons noise exposure is therefore comparable to that of Army infantry — with the same risks of NIHL and tinnitus from inadequate hearing protection on ranges and in the field.
Air defence systems. RAF Regiment units have historically operated the Rapier surface-to-air missile system and the Jernas (updated Rapier) successor. Fire control radar, optical tracking equipment, and the missile launch sequence all generate noise for operators in close proximity. Rapier launcher crews and fire control post operators were exposed to propulsion and radar noise during training and live firings.
Fast jet airfield operations. RAF Regiment squadrons are based at fast jet stations — Lossiemouth, Marham, Coningsby, Brize Norton, and others. Typhoon, Tornado GR4, and their predecessors generate peak noise levels of 140dB or more on takeoff and during low-level circuit flying. Personnel working on airfield perimeter duties, guarding flight lines, or conducting exercises on active airfields were exposed to this acoustic environment repeatedly and over extended periods.
Operational deployments. RAF Regiment Force Protection Wings deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Falkland Islands, where they conducted ground operations alongside infantry. The operational noise exposure of these tours — weapons contact, IED blast, mortar fire — adds to the total lifetime noise dose of those who served.
Was hearing protection adequate on airfields and ranges?
The MoD was required to provide hearing protection appropriate to both the weapons noise and the airfield noise environments in which RAF Regiment Gunners served. Many veterans report that:
- Hearing protection provision on weapons ranges was the same as elsewhere in the armed forces — standard foam plugs — without specific assessment of whether additional attenuation was required
- On airfield duties, hearing protection was not consistently provided or enforced despite the chronic noise environment of fast jet operations
- The combination of infantry training noise and airfield ambient noise meant that total lifetime noise dose for RAF Regiment personnel was often higher than for personnel in either environment alone
Where the MoD failed in its duty, it bears legal responsibility for the hearing damage that followed. Our eligibility guide explains the criteria in full.
Who can make an RAF Regiment hearing loss claim?
Any former or serving member of the RAF Regiment — across all squadrons and roles, including Ground Defence, Force Protection, and CBRN specialist roles — who developed hearing loss or tinnitus during or following service is potentially eligible. Claims are also available to RAF personnel in other trades who worked regularly on fast jet flight lines and sustained significant airfield noise exposure.
There is no minimum service period.
How much compensation can an RAF Regiment Gunner claim?
Compensation is assessed under the Judicial College Guidelines (17th Edition, 2024).
| Condition | Compensation range |
|---|---|
| Total deafness (no tinnitus) | £110,750 to £133,810 |
| Complete loss in one ear (with complications) | £38,210 to £55,570 |
| Severe NIHL with severe tinnitus | £36,260 to £55,570 |
| Moderate NIHL and tinnitus | £18,180 to £36,260 |
| Mild tinnitus with some NIHL | £15,370 to £18,180 |
| Mild NIHL or mild tinnitus alone | Around £14,300 |
| Slight tinnitus with slight NIHL | £8,890 to £15,370 |
| Slight loss or tinnitus alone | Up to £8,560 |
Special damages — hearing aids, lost earnings, treatment costs — are assessed on top. See our compensation amounts page for the full breakdown.
Time limits and the MoD settlement scheme
The standard limitation period is three years from your date of knowledge. Courts retain discretion under Section 33 of the Limitation Act 1980 to allow late claims. The MoD settlement scheme deadline is the scheme deadline that applies to your circumstances — claims submitted before this date benefit from the scheme's agreed framework. Starting now is the practical approach.
Frequently asked questions
Does airfield noise count as occupational noise for a hearing loss claim?+
Yes. The MoD was required to assess and manage noise hazards on active airfields, including fast jet operations, and to provide hearing protection to personnel working in those environments. Failure to do so is a recognised duty of care breach.
I served as a RAF Regiment Gunner but never deployed operationally. Can I still claim?+
Yes. Operational deployment is not required. Sustained weapons range training, air defence systems training, and airfield duty noise all create compensable exposure. Many successful claims are based entirely on training and garrison noise rather than operational exposure.
Can I claim for both airfield noise and weapons noise?+
Yes. If your service involved both sources of exposure, both are included in the evidence and both contribute to the total noise dose and therefore the compensation calculation.