Fleet Air Arm
The Fleet Air Arm is an integral part of the Royal Navy and provides true versatility in air operations at and from the sea. Adaptable, versatile and professional, the aircraft operated by the Royal Navy significantly increase the range and manner to which the Navy can exert its presence.
With more than 100 years of aviation experience, maritime air power operating from sea or on land remains as vital today as when it was first conceived. Helicopters operating from the decks of ships extend the operational footprint of a Task Group at sea and allow submarines and surface ship threats to be dealt with. Naval aviation assets are fully integrated in warfare at sea but can also fight with the Army and Air Force.
The Fleet Air Arm is inherently flexible and Naval aircraft fulfil a wide range of roles from counter-piracy and counter-narcotics operations at sea, to land based operations in Afghanistan and Oman and UK Search and Rescue and contingent commitments. For over a century the Fleet Air Arm has pioneered maritime aviation as an integrated component of Naval Warfare. Aircraft carriers, angled decks, catapult launches, small ship helicopter operations and the maritime Short Take Off Vertical Landing concept were all developed by the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy and have since been adopted by other navies throughout the world.
Maritime-based aviation plays a vital role in power projection ashore; the ability to operate aircraft from amphibious capable shipping offshore means that military action can be taken at a time and place of choice. Skilled aviators, deck-team and engineers, all experienced in the discipline of conducting intense flying operations from ships, are able to coordinate and rapidly deploy forces ashore and support them from the sea.
Continuing the reputation for innovation and ‘can do attitude’, the Sea King ASACS is a real success story on how maritime assets can contribute to a joint campaign ashore. Developed from the Airborne Early Warning Version, it has been upgraded and now operates as a highly capable surveillance platform and it is equally comfortable finding insurgents in Afghanistan and detecting low-flying missiles threatening a task force.
The 1998 Strategic Defence Review established the need for a new joint command, Joint Helicopter Command, responsible for the integration and deployment of all battlefield field helicopters from the three British Armed Forces. Although this has ensured coherency during helicopter deployment, there remained insufficient numbers available resulting in a 38 percent shortfall of this valuable asset and significant force multiplier. This sets the stage for the next evolution of JHC to take responsibility for all MOD helicopters as a functional command. There are already signs that the current lack of rotary assets is seeing greater use of maritime helicopters, from Fleet HQ, in support of land operations. Procurement of new aircraft will make use of latest technologies, which will further facilitate maritime helicopter use to land operations through greater airframe commonality and an increase in overland capability.
The Wildcat program will deliver a fleet of 62 new light helicopters for the Army and Royal Navy from 2014 and 2015 respectively. The Ministry of Defence has 62 new Lynx Wildcat helicopters on order from Augusta Westland. 34 Lynx Wildcat (Army variant) are due to be delivered incrementally between 2012 and 2016, with the remaining 28 Lynx Wildcat Mk2. (Navy variant) being delivered between 2013 and 2017. Subject to operational requirements, the Lynx Wildcat should be available for deployment to theater in 2015. Fielding commenced in May 2012, with the first operational flight by Army pilots taking place on 18 June 2012.
Joint Force Harrier, combining Royal Navy Sea Harrier FA2 and RAF Harrier GR7 aircraft, was established following the 1998 Strategic Defence Review. This reflected a degree of interchangeability in these aircraft, and a common capability of being able to operate both off carriers and from airfields. There had been agreement for a two star Admiral to be the head of the JFH organisation. Very soon after the latter's introduction, the Royal Air Force conducted a Command level internal reorganisation resulting in the removal of the two star Admiral and the subsequent loss of control by the Royal Navy over its management of Fleet fixed wing aircraft. As of 2002 the Harrier GR7s were due to be stood-down in 2015 when they would be replaced by the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, which was to be introduced into service from 2012. The Sea Harrier had been programmed to leave operational service in 2012, again to be replaced by the JSF. But on 28 February 2002 the MoD announced plans under which the first of three Sea Harrier Squadrons was withdrawn from service on 31 March 2004, the second Squadron in March 2005 and the final Squadron in March 2006. This would leave a gap in the First Line of Air Defence of the Fleet/JTF of not less than six years (2006 to 2012). Following the retirement of the Sea Harrier, the Fleet Air Arm commenced operations with the Harrier GR7 and GR9 aircraft, within the framework of Joint Force Harrier (JFH) based at RAF Cottesmore in Rutland. The Sea Harriers were a shield, and the GR7s a spear. The GR7 aircraft itself is a very different beast from the Sea Harrier. The GR7 is considerably more advanced in terms of construction, powerplant and avionics. Of note, the GR7 and GR9 were not fighters. Although more than capable of looking after themselves, the aircraft are optimised for the close air support and strike roles and do not possess either a radar, or an integrated long-range air-to-air capability.
JFH was a robust organisation that provides the necessary support and expertise for the Harrier, and acts as a parent for the UK’s three front line Harrier Squadrons: Naval Strike Wing, No1 (F) Sqn RAF and NoIV (AC) Sqn RAF. Naval Strike Wing (NSW) was formed on 9th March 2007. NSW comprises of elements of 800 and 801 Naval Air Squadrons, but was effectively organized as a single unit hence making best use of available manpower and resources. Part of Joint Force Harrier and based at RAF Cottesmore in Rutland, NSW operated Harrier GR7 and GR9 aircraft in the close air support (CAS) role and was the Royal Navy’s only front line fast jet squadron. NSW comprised some 200 personnel, with ages ranging between 18 to 52. The tasks undertaken by NSW personnel range from pilots, through engineers to operations, logistics and catering personnel, all of whom served to make the unit capable of self sustaining operations. As part of Joint Force Harrier the squadron enjoyed a challenging and varied role that involves operations from both ship and shore bases, including several Operational tours in Afghanistan.
The October 2010 Strategic Defense Review announced the immediate retirement of the Harriers.
The introduction of the Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers and the F-35 aircraft will provide a world-leading capability that will allow the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm to continue to protect the nation’s interests across the globe. The 2010 Strategic Defense Review stated "The Government believes it is right for the United Kingdom to retain, in the long term, the capability that only aircraft carriers can provide – the ability to deploy air power from anywhere in the world, without the need for friendly air bases on land. In the short term, there are few circumstances we can envisage where the ability to deploy airpower from the sea will be essential. That is why we have, reluctantly, taken the decision to retire the Harrier aircraft, which has served our country so well. But over the longer term, we cannot assume that bases for land-based aircraft will always be available when and where we need them. That is why we need an operational carrier. But the last Government committed to carriers that would have been unable to work properly with our closest military allies. It will take time to rectify this error, but we are determined to do so. We will fit a catapult to the operational carrier to enable it to fly a version of the Joint Strike Fighter with a longer range and able to carry more weapons. Crucially, that will allow our carrier to operate in tandem with the US and French navies, and for American and French aircraft to operate from our carrier and vice versa."
The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter will be the new multirole fast jet for the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. It will serve as the strike capability for the new Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carrier. The Government attracted criticism for its decision in 2010 to select the the F-35C CTOL over the F-35B VSTOL variant originally chosen by the previous Government, and again for reverting back to the original F-35B VSTOL choice two years later. The Ministry of Defence acted quickly once it realized, in early 2012, the extent to which its 2010 decision to procure the carrier variant of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) had been based on immature data and flawed assumptions. In May 2012, the Department announced that it was reverting to procuring the short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) variant of the fighter. This produced a 3 year delay (from 2020 to 2023) to the Department’s planned carrier variant option delivery, arising between the 2010 and 2012 decisions.
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