JOINT FORCE HARRIER (JFH) AND JOINT HELICOPTER COMMAND (JHC)

JOINT FORCE HARRIER (JFH)

The Joint Force Harrier (JFH) was established on 1 April 2000 and brought together the Sea Harrier FA.2 squadrons, previously under Naval Air Command, with the RAF's Harrier GR 7/7A squadrons in a new command within RAF Air Command. However, less than two years later, it was announced that the Sea Harrier FA.2 was to be retired early from the JFH under a development that will see the JFH standardise on the RAF’s Harrier GR 9/9A. Announcing the move in 2002, UK MoD officials said the type rationalisation was in preparation for the introduction of the Future Joint Combat Aircraft and the Future Aircraft Carrier in 2012.

The MoD explained that the optimum development of the JFH is to support only one Harrier type to its end of service life, the 'more capable GR 9'. The Sea Harrier FA.2 was therefore withdrawn from service between 2004 and March 2006.

The JFH received its first upgraded Harrier GR 9 from BAE Systems' Warton facility in November 2005. Under the terms of a £500 million programme the avionics of some 60 x Harrier GR 7/7A will be upgraded to GR 9 standard and 11 x Harrier T 10 will be upgraded to T 12 standard.

From 1 April 2006 the JFH will consist of 4 x squadrons as follows:

800 Naval Air Squadron 9 x Harrier GR 7/7A Cottesmore
801 Naval Air Squadron 9 x Harrier GR 7/7A Cottesmore
1 Squadron RAF 9 x Harrier GR 9/9A Cottesmore
4 Squadron RAF 9 x Harrier GR 7/7A Cottesmore

All four squadrons should have 12 pilots each and eventually all will operate the Harrier GR 9/9A and T 12.

JOINT HELICOPTER COMMAND (JHC)

The UK armed forces' Joint Helicopter Command (JHC) became operational on 1 April 2000. During early 2006 the JHC had about 420 aircraft under command.

Royal Air Force
34 x Chinook HC2/2a
33 x Puma HC1
22 x Merlin HC3
4 x Griffin HAR2
2 x Sea King HAR3

Royal Navy
33 x Sea King HC4
6 x Lynx Mk7
8 x Gazelle Mk1

Army
110 x Lynx
105 x Gazelle
67 x Apache Mk1
6 x Bell 212
6 x Islander

The RAF Contribution to the JHC is as follows: