PLEASE TAKE YOUR FREE ISSUE 1, 2020 COPY The Nijmegen March 661 Squadron Op CABRIT Celebrating Our LANDING ZONE Reserve Squadrons CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OPERATIONS ACROSS ALL BOUNDARIES LANDING ZONE / CELEBRATING 20 YEARS 2019 1 JOURNAL OF THE JOINT HELICOPTER COMMAND TAKE ON A CHALLENGE HIKE. BIKE. CLIMB. RUN. STANDING SIDE Sign up today for: a guaranteed place in the event support from your Regional Fundraiser BY SIDE WITH THE an RAF Benevolent Fund branded top RAF FAMILY FOR a chance to help the RAF Family. OVER 100 YEARS Find out how we help serving and former members of the RAF and their families. rafbf.org/get-involved FREE CALL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE EMOTIONAL WELLBEING [email protected] 0800169 2942 WELLBEING BREAKS INDEPENDENT LIVING 020 7307 3321 #makeitcount rafbf.org/help FAMILY AND RELATIONSHIPS TRANSITION The RAF Benevolent Fund is a registered charity in England and Wales (1081009) and Scotland (SC038109). CHALLENGE_ADVERT_JAN20 2 LANDING ZONE / CELEBRATING 20 YEARS 2020 LANDING ZONE / CELEBRATING 20 YEARS 2020 3 FOREWORD LZ CELEBRATING 20 YEARS MEET THE TEAM CONTENTS ISSUE 1 2020 EDITORIAL Editor: Sqn Ldr Joan Ochuodho E: [email protected] JHC HISTORY T: 01264 381178 Operations Across All Boundaries 06 – History Of Joint Helicopter Support SALES Squadron ....................................... 26 elcome to this bumper, Sales Manager: Laurence Rowe 20th Anniversary Royal Air Force Tactical Supply Wing 28 E: [email protected] edition of LZ - I’m sure T: 01536 334218 you will enjoy it. Having HONOURS & AWARDS 06 been an SO2 in the 80th Anniversary Awards Evening 18 – original JHC HQ in 1999, DESIGNER commanded a JHC squadron and a Force, HISTORIC REFLECTIONS Designer: Amanda Robinson W Fixed Wing MAS Transfers to the RAF 21 E: [email protected] and been the 1* Capability Director, I hope I’m reasonably well qualified to pen this Look Back: When Two Become One 30 T: 01536 334226 short introduction. 661 Squadron Op CABRIT............. 46 – PUBLISHER PEOPLE I’m immensely proud of what the JHC has Lance Print Ltd, 1st Floor, Tailby Some Images Celebrating 20 Years Of achieved during its existence. Continuously House, Bath Road, Kettering, deployed overseas on operations as well JHC Personnel and Equipment ..... 32 Northants NN16 8NL as being always prepared for UK resilience British Army Tactical Unmanned T: 01536 334222 and counter terrorism operations, we Aircraft System (TUAS) .................. 36 have nonetheless adapted as the strategic Celebrating Our Reserve Squadrons 40 E: [email protected] environment has changed. From global I Learn’t About Flying From W: www.lanceprint.co.uk Commander Joint Helicopter Command, Rear 32 That Article .................................... 50 – Admiral Jonathan Pentreath CB OBE. power projection (Sierra Leone), through war-fighting (Iraq) and counter-insurgency 47 Regiment (RA) Change of Beret PRINTER (Iraq/Afghanistan), our RW Forces (and 16 Air Parade ............................................ 54 Lance Print Ltd, 29/30 Stapledon Road, Assault Brigade when under JHC command) 6 AAC D - Day 75th “Run To Orton Southgate, Peterborough PE2 6TD The Bridges” .................................. have always achieved what’s been asked of 60 T: 01733 390 564 them. And now, as we enter an era of state E: [email protected] OPERATIONS on state competition, we have again moved W: www.lanceprint.co.uk with the times. Our deployments of Apache, Exercise Wyvern Tor 2019 ............. 42 – Wildcat, Chinook and Merlin across Europe in FURTHER INFORMATION 2019 have been a demonstration of modern TRAINING deterrence, forward presence, flexibility and Formation of the JHC Aviation ..... 39 W: www.mod.uk/defenceinternet/ adaptability - all good in vogue terms as we Milestone For The UK Military Flying aboutdefence/whatwedo/ prepare for a new Government and possibly Training Systems (UKMFTS) .......... 52 airsafetyandaviation/jhc a SDSR in 2020. – SPORT 42 COVER CREDIT And none of this would be possible without The Nijmegen March 47 REGT RA © MoD Crown Copyright a professional, dedicated and committed Local Rugby team Enjoys Team workforce - whether Army, Royal Navy, Royal Building Day At RAF Odiham ........ 22 Air Force, Civil Servant or Contractor. Despite EX Suffolk Rambler ........................ 62 many gapping challenges, shortages of spares or lack of tooling, you continue to CHARITY deliver, and I’m immensely proud of you all. Katherine House Hospice .............. 17 And so, as we look back over the past 20 years, we shouldn’t dwell for too long on our many successes, but should instead properly learn the lessons, so that we are better able 52 to meet the challenges of the next 20 years - for I can guarantee there will be many. Be challenging, be questioning, be innovative, but above all be professional. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 06 FOR THE COVER STORY This publication is copyright Lance Print Limited and may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form in whole or in part without prior written permission of Lance Print Limited. While every care has been taken during the preparation of this magazine, Lance Print Limited cannot be held responsible for accuracy of the information herein or for any consequence arising from OPERATIONS ACROSS ALL BOUNDARIES LANDING ZONE it. Views Expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Royal Air Force or the Ministry of Defence. All images © Crown Copyright unless otherwise stated. 4 LANDING ZONE / CELEBRATING 20 YEARS 2020 LANDING ZONE / CELEBRATING 200 YEARS 2020 5 Paul Tedman, Deputy Commander JHC, rotary assets at one end of the scale, with new fleet of Apache AH-64E Helicopters who took over from Brigadier Mike team work and training at the other, whilst to that of the UK’s future F-35B fleet. Keating CBE in October this year. They ensuring its long-term goals are consistent Against this background, the good news provide higher command and control, and with the MoD at both the micro and is that JHC’s proactive forward thinking OPERATIONS management to JHC`s subordinate units, macro level. has largely managed to avoid past fleet as well as interfacing with the Ministry cliff edges by modernising key assets of Defence (MoD) and overseas military This sounds relatively straightforward but within its wider fleet. The next five-year ACROSS ALL BOUNDARIES commands and agencies. investing for the future is no longer simple period will be important in this respect as the current economic climate dictates as legacy aircraft are retired (Apache JOINT FORCE 25 that future investment must be balanced AH-64D, Gazelle AH1), major upgrade Context is very important when assessing and appropriate. A good example of this programmes are completed (Merlin HC4), Article & Photos: Ian Harding. and analysing the direction of change came during quarter three 2017 when new assets are acquired (Apache AH-64E within JHC following the cessation of every MoD capability came under pressure and Chinook CH-47 Extended Range) and he world as we knew it in Northern Ireland (Operation Banner war-fighting. The aim of the guidance to cut costs. Things looked painful! Even existing assets receive new equipment to changed that day and the 1969-2007). Almost immediately following which followed SDSR 2015 and the though no cuts ensued, the stark reality is extend their operational capability and UK, like most global powers, the cessation of combat operations in Comprehensive Defence Spending Review that a clear precedent had been set. effectiveness (Commando Wildcat Battle have been dealing with the Afghanistan in 2014, JHC had to reset its was essentially to map out a broad range Reconnaissance Helicopter). consequences ever since. objectives to meet the requirements of of strategies to ensure JHC’s objectives In seeking funds for future investment, as the Strategic Defence and Security Review were aligned and coherent across the well demonstrating need and capability Funding competition is easily understood TAt the forefront of the United Kingdom’s (SDSR) 2015. This proved a catalyst for MoD. Following years of campaigning, JHC generation, JHC must demonstrate value but managing strategic shifts it is not When one considers contingent defence capability since it was change with JHC working with the Army had to reset its operations and assets for for money. This is not easy when nobody simply about money. It is more about formed two years before 9/11 on October Headquarters Air Manoeuvre Capability important events contingency and what was known as ‘Joint can predict with certainty what the changing attitudes, re-shaping and 5, 1999, Joint Helicopter Command (JHC) Director and others, to meet the objectives Force 25’. Essentially this meant it would future holds, and competition exists for implementing structures and practices that have changed has successfully brought together the of the UK Ministry of Defence Strategic take JHC until 2025 to meet its objectives, funding. With so much media attention to improve methodology across the our world in recent battlefield helicopters and air assault force Guidance 2016 and the Comprehensive which from a land perspective is to have a on the arrival of HMS Queen Elizabeth; operational and logistical spectrum. The years, it is hard elements of the Royal Navy, Army Air Corps Defence Spending Review. divisional war fighting capability based on the UKs first new aircraft carrier, and the environments in which JHC helicopters and Royal Air Force and integrated their a full-size division, expeditionary air wings fifth-generation Lockheed Martin F-35Bs and personnel operate are increasingly to think beyond core helicopter tasks defined as Lift, Find A key part of the JHC’s evolution process combining the UK’s Air Force capabilities Lightning IIs which will operate from her contested and congested and the the horrific 9/11 and Attack, with the air assault capability involved changing its training techniques plus a Naval carrier strike group. deck, it is no surprise attention has been enemy is often faceless and unknown.