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![]() Tuesday, February 23, 1999 Published at 15:47 GMT ![]() ![]() UK ![]() RAF and Navy plan 'Joint Force' merger ![]() A Sea Harrier launching from HMS Invincible ![]() Royal Air Force and Royal Navy squadrons are to merge to form a single unit called Joint Force 2000, under plans revealed by the Ministry of Defence on Tuesday.
A Joint Helicopter Command has already been formed.
The two types of aircraft - one a bomber and the other a fighter - have already operated successfully together from the aircraft carrier HMS Invincible during action against Iraq in the Gulf last year.
Defence Secretary George Robertson said the Joint Force 2000 will be based at two stations 15 miles apart - RAF Cottesmore in Rutland and RAF Wittering in Cambridgeshire. "This is a practical and symbolic step towards the creation of a truly joint force, capable of reaching the world's trouble spots and, when there, acting effectively," he said. The move will mean 28 Sea Harriers and 589 jobs moving from the Royal Navy's air squadron base in Yeovilton, Somerset. Distinct identity But the government has said the transfer of the Royal Navy's helicopter squadron to Yeovilton will mean a "net increase" of 341 jobs for the Devon base.
Some concessions have been made to traditional service divisions, with each service maintaining its own distinct identity. The merged unit will come under the jurisdiction of the RAF's Strike Command, while its commanding officer will be a Royal Navy admiral. Crews will also learn to fly each other's aircraft, although they will retain their own service's uniforms. The Harriers will eventually be retired and replaced by a single multi-purpose aircraft.
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