Puneet Varma (Editor)

Joint Helicopter Command

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Active
  
1999 - present

Branch
  
Tri-Service

Role
  
Rotary wing operations

Allegiance
  
Elizabeth II

Country
  
United Kingdom

Type
  
Type command

Founded
  
1999

Joint Helicopter Command Terrane Ltd Official Supplier to the World39s Armed Forces

Size
  
15,000 personnel 239 helicopters

Similar
  
Army Air Corps, Allied Rapid Reaction, Royal Wessex Yeomanry, Royal Electrical and Mech, Queen's Royal Hussars

Joint helicopter command apache lynx sea king chinook royal navy marines army air force


Joint Helicopter Command (JHC) is a tri-service organisation uniting battlefield military helicopters of the British Armed Forces for command and coordination purposes. Joint Helicopter Command reports to Army Headquarters at Andover.

Contents

Joint Helicopter Command Joint Helicopter Command JHC Badge

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History

Joint Helicopter Command Joint Helicopter Command JHC Desert Patch

Joint Helicopter Command was formed on 5 October 1999, from a recommendation in the 1998 Strategic Defence Review to consolidate the battlefield helicopters of the British Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Navy under a single command.

Joint Helicopter Command Joint Helicopter Command Arm Badge Subdued 365

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. Another detachment was also maintained in Afghanistan, as part of Operation Herrick.

Organisation

As of 2006, Joint Helicopter Command had 243 aircraft available for operations. The majority of the United Kingdom's military helicopters come under JHC, although exceptions include the Royal Navy's fleet helicopters, the Defence Helicopter Flying School, and the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force's search and rescue helicopters.

An overview of formations from each service under Joint Helicopter Command:

Joint Helicopter Command Joint Helicopter Command JHC Embroidered Patch

  • Royal Navy
  • Fleet Air Arm
  • Commando Helicopter Force in Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton
  • 845 Naval Air Squadron with Merlin HC3/HC3A helicopters
  • 846 Naval Air Squadron with Merlin HC3/HC3A helicopters
  • 847 Naval Air Squadron with Wildcat AH1helicopters
  • British Army units
  • 1 Regiment Army Air Corps in Yeovilton with Wildcat AH1 helicopters
  • 2 Regiment Army Air Corps (Ground Crew Training) in Middle Wallop
  • 3 Regiment Army Air Corps in Wattisham with Apache AH1 attack helicopters
  • 4 Regiment Army Air Corps in Wattisham with Apache AH1 attack helicopters
  • 5 Regiment Army Air Corps in Belfast with Westland Lynx and Westland Gazelle helicopters
  • 6 Regiment Army Air Corps in Bury St Edmunds (Army Reserve)
  • 7 Regiment Army Air Corps (Flight Crew Training) in Middle Wallop
  • 47th Regiment Royal Artillery in Larkhill with Watchkeeper WK450 unmanned aerial vehicles
  • Royal Air Force
  • No. 7 Squadron in RAF Odiham with Chinook helicopters
  • No. 18 Squadron in RAF Odiham with Chinook helicopters
  • No. 27 Squadron in RAF Odiham with Chinook helicopters
  • No. 28 Squadron (Support Helicopter Operational Conversion Unit) in RAF Benson with Chinook HC4 and Puma HC2 helicopters
  • No. 33 Squadron in RAF Benson with Puma HC2 helicopters
  • No. 230 Squadron in RAF Benson with Puma HC2 helicopters

    • Former Deployments: Joint Helicopter Force (Iraq)

    When deployed on a major operational deployment the aircraft and supporting assets are assigned to a Joint Helicopter Force, for example Joint Helicopter Force (Afghanistan) during Operation Herrick in Afghanistan.

    The following types were deployed to Iraq under JHF (I):

  • Boeing Chinook HC2s.
  • Westland Sea King HC4s.
  • Westland Lynx AH7/AH9s.
  • Westland Gazelle AH1s.
  • Westland Puma HC1s.
  • Westland Merlin HC3s.

    • Former Deployments: Joint Helicopter Force (Afghanistan)

    The following types were deployed to Afghanistan under JHF (A):

  • AgustaWestland Apache AH1s.
  • Boeing Chinook HC2s.
  • Westland Lynx AH7, AH9 & AH9As.
  • Westland Merlin HC3s.
  • Westland Puma HC1s.
  • Westland Sea King HC4+ from November 2007 & ASaC7s

    • Joint Helicopter Force (Northern Ireland)

    The following types are deployed in Northern Ireland based at JHFS Aldergrove as JHF (NI), in support of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and military units.

  • Britten-Norman Defender (fixed wing)
  • Westland Gazelle

    • Senior Commanders

    JHC is commanded by a two-star officer from either the Royal Navy, British Army or Royal Air Force.

    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–Present Major General Richard Felton

    • References

    Joint Helicopter Command Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA