Joint Helicopter Command

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

History
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's largest operation to date has been Operation Telic, the invasion of Iraq. Since the invasion, Joint Helicopter Command has maintained units in Iraq, in support of deployed British and coalition forces there. Another detachment is 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, and the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force's search and rescue helicopters.

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


 * Royal Navy
 * Fleet Air Arm
 * Commando Helicopter Force
 * 845 Naval Air Squadron
 * 846 Naval Air Squadron
 * 847 Naval Air Squadron
 * 848 Naval Air Squadron


 * British Army
 * Royal Corps of Signals
 * Mainly 220 Sig Sqn, part of 21 Signal Regiment (Air Support)
 * Infantry (wef 3 Apr 12)
 * 4th Battalion, Parachute Regiment
 * 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment
 * Army Air Corps
 * 1 Regiment
 * 2 Regiment (Training)
 * 3 Regiment
 * 4 Regiment
 * 5 Regiment
 * 6 Regiment (TA)
 * 7 Regiment (Training)
 * 9 Regiment


 * Royal Air Force
 * No. 7 Squadron
 * No. 18 Squadron
 * No. 27 Squadron
 * No. 28 Squadron
 * No. 33 Squadron
 * No. 78 Squadron
 * No. 230 Squadron

The Command also has operational command of 16 Air Assault Brigade, which comprises 4 infantry battalions in the air assault and parachute infantry roles, plus supporting elements.

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 Anthony Johnstone-Burt
 * 2011 - Present Air Vice-Marshal Carl Dixon