Joint Aviation Command

Over the years, the grouping of all battlefield support helicopters operated by the Fleet Air Arm (FAA), Army Air Corps (AAC) and Royal Air Force (RAF) into one of the services had been discussed, however the Ministry of Defence (MOD) believed that any advantages would be outweighed by the damaging impact such a re-organisation would have on ethos, morale and operational effectiveness.^[4]

The Strategic Defence Review (SDR), published by the MOD in July 1998, announced that a Joint Helicopter Command (JHC) would be formed, which would deliver training, standards, doctrinal development and support for operations in order to maximise the availability of battlefield helicopters and reinforce their growing importance in military operations. JHC would be a tri-Service organisation, with personnel remaining part of their parent service.^[5] The formation of JHC was considered by the MOD as one of the most important initiatives to result from the SDR.^[6] The command was expected to draw on the equipment, personnel and expertise of the single services and be charged with providing the Joint Force Commander tailored packages of battlefield helicopters (from one or more service), support equipment and personnel, to meet operational requirements. The MOD's intention was to provide a single focus for the transfer of best practice from service to service and for removing, over time, differences in extant operating procedures.^[4]

A Joint Helicopter Command Study Team was established to determine how JHC should operate. Four options for the location of JHC Headquarters were also examined, with RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset, AAC Netheravon in Wiltshire, HQ Land Command at Erskine Barracks in Wiltshire and RAF Benson in Oxfordshire, being considered for the role.^[5]

Joint Helicopter Command was formed on 5 October 1999, bringing together the FAA's commando helicopters, the Army's attack and light utility helicopters, and the RAF's support helicopters.^[7] The FAA's anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare and airborne early warning helicopters, and FAA and RAF search and rescue helicopters were not included in JHC and remained under the control of the respective services.^[5] JHC Headquarters was established alongside HQ Land Command at Erskine Barracks, with Air-Vice Marshal David Niven being the inaugural commander.^[8][9]

In 2007, JHC had over 15,000 personnel under its command, some 8,000 of who were part of 16 Air Assault Brigade This included over 900 volunteer reserves from the Territorial Army and Royal Auxiliary Air Force, and 380 MOD civilians.^[10]

Joint Helicopter Command's largest operation to date has been Operation Telic, the invasion of Iraq. Following the invasion, Joint Helicopter Command maintained units in Iraq, in support of British and coalition forces deployed there.^[11] Another detachment was also maintained in Afghanistan, as part of Operation Herrick.^[12]

In 2024, Joint Helicopter Command evolved into Joint Aviation Command with the introduction of unmanned aerial vehicle operations into the command.^[13]

The JHC operation in Northern Ireland in support of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and military units as part of Operation Banner and later Operation Helvetic was named the Joint Helicopter Force Northern Ireland (JHF(NI)). JHF(NI) consisted of the following units based at Joint Helicopter Command Flying Station Aldergrove:^[14]

• 5 Regiment^[15][16]
  • No. 655 Squadron – Westland Lynx AH1
  • No. 665 Squadron – Gazelle AH1
  • Reconnaissance, Intelligence and Geographic Centre (Northern Ireland)
• No. 230 Squadron – Westland Puma HC1

The JHC operation in Iraq as part of Operation Telic was named Joint Helicopter Force Iraq (JHF(I)).^[17]

The following aircraft types served with JHF(I):

• Boeing Chinook HC2^[18]
• Westland Sea King HC4^[18]
• Westland Lynx AH7 and AH9^[18][19]
• Westland Gazelle AH1^[18]
• Westland Puma HC1^[20]
• Westland Merlin HC3^[21]

The JHC operation in Afghanistan as part of Operation Herrick was named Joint Helicopter Force Afghanistan (JHF(A))^[22] "Task Force Jaguar".^[23]

The following aircraft types served with JHF(A):

• AgustaWestland Apache AH1^[24]
• Boeing Chinook HC2^[25]
• Westland Lynx AH7, AH9 and AH9A^[24]
• Westland Merlin HC3^[25]
• Westland Puma HC1
• Westland Sea King HC4+ and ASaC7^[24]

Air-Vice Marshal Alastair Smith became commander of Joint Helicopter Command in March 2023. JAC is part of Army Headquarters and has its headquarters at the British Army's Marlborough Lines, Andover in Hampshire.^[26]

Formations from each service under Joint Aviation Command include:^{[27][28][29][30][31][32]}

The organisation is commanded by a two-star officer from either the Royal Navy, British Army or Royal Air Force.^[37] Commander Joint Helicopter Command has been held by:

• 1999 – 2002 Air Vice-Marshal David Niven
• 2002 – 2005 Air Vice-Marshal Paul Luker
• 2005 – 2008 Major General Gary Coward
• 2008 – 2011 Rear Admiral Tony Johnstone-Burt
• 2011 – 2014 Air Vice-Marshal Carl Dixon
• 2014 – 2017 Major General Richard Felton
• 2017 – 2020 Rear Admiral Jonathan Pentreath
• 2020 – 2023 Air Vice-Marshal Nigel Colman^[38]
• 2023 – present Air Vice-Marshal Alastair Smith

• List of Royal Air Force commands

• March, P (2008). The Royal Air Force Yearbook 2008. Fairford, UK: The Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises.
•   This article incorporates text published under the British Open Government Licence v3.0: Ministry of Defence (July 1998). Strategic Defence Review (PDF) (Report). London: Stationery Office. OCLC 606985144. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2019.

• Official website not updated since 2014
• Joint Helicopter Command – British Army
• Joint Helicopter Command – Royal Navy