1710 Naval Air Squadron – previously known as the Mobile Aircraft Support Unit (MASU), was commissioned, without much publicity, as 1710 Naval Air Squadron by CINCFLEET in May 2010, and is based at Portsmouth.     It brought together three complimentary capabilities which have existed, in different forms, for over sixty years.      Previous incarnations of these capabilities include Mobile Aircraft Repair Transport and Salvage Unit (MARTSU), Mobile Aircraft Support Unit (MASU), Naval Aircraft Materials Laboratory (NAML), Assistant Directorate Aircraft Integrity Monitoring (AD AIM) and the Materials Integrity Group (MIG).

The team from 1710 Naval Air Squadron began a deployment in Helmand (Afghanistan) back in 2006, and continues to this day, and ensures that RAF and Army Air Corps helicopters as well as those of the Fleet Air Arm are kept in working order for their vital mission.    A five strong team from 1710 Naval Air Squadron are based at Camp Bastion, the hub of the British effort in the country.    It's not the task of the 1710 Squadron Detachment to look after helicopters on a day to day basis, but they are called upon to carry out complex repairs to “whirlybirds” damaged by emergency/rough landings and serious wear and tear or, to a lesser degree, enemy fire.    The Repair Detachment is lead by a Lieutenant, with two (2)  Chief Petty Officers and two (2) Petty Officers.

The primary role of 1710 Naval Air Squadron is the support to current operations ensuring that UK military aircraft operate at optimum levels of operational readiness and capability at all times. This includes the assessment and structural repair of damaged helicopters, designing and fitting modifications to enable new capabilities and providing advice and support, across a range of scientific disciplines, to preserve aircraft worthiness and availability.    The Squadron also assists with in depth investigations into failures and accidents.