Group captain (
Gp Capt or
Grp Cpt in the RAF,
IAF and
PAF,
GPCAPT in the
RNZAF and
RAAF; formerly sometimes
G/C in all services) is a senior commissioned rank which originated in and continues to be used by the
Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. It ranks above
wing commander and immediately below
air commodore. The name of the rank is the complete phrase, and is never shortened to "captain".