History
Joint Force Harrier was established on 1 April 2000 in response to the proposal brought by the British Government as part of Strategic Defence Review. Originally called Joint Force 2000, it combined the Royal Navy's Sea Harrier FA2 squadrons with the RAF's Harrier GR 7/7A squadrons under a single command structure within RAF Strike Command. This force was to be deployable from both Invincible class aircraft carriers, Royal Air Force stations and deployed air bases.
The Royal Navy's contribution to the force was the Sea Harrier previously part of Naval Air Command. With the retirement of the Sea Harrier in 2006, the force migrated entirely to the Harrier GR7, and the upgraded GR9.
In 2006, No 3 Squadron converted to the Eurofighter Typhoon, surrendering its aircraft to the Fleet Air Arm, and allowing No 800 NAS to reform. At the same time, the size of operational squadrons reduced from 12 aircraft to nine. Both No 1 and No 4 Squadrons, together with 800 NAS, surrendered three aircraft each. This allowed 801 NAS to convert from the Sea Harrier to the Harrier GR9. The Naval Air Squadrons operate but not own the aircraft.
On 9 March 2007, with the reformation of 801 NAS, the Naval Strike Wing (NSW) was formed. This saw elements of both Fleet Air Arm squadrons amalgamate into a single operational squadron for deployment either on land (such as Afghanistan) or aboard the Royal Navy's two aircraft carriers (HMS Illustrious & HMS Ark Royal) On 1 April 2010, NSW reverted to the identity of 800 Naval Air Squadron.
On 31 March 2010, the force was reduced by one squadron with the disbandment of No. 20 Squadron RAF, the Harrier Operational Conversion Unit (OCU). No. 4 Squadron also disbanded and reformed as No. 4 (Reserve) Squadron at RAF Wittering, taking over as the OCU. At the same time, Joint Force Harrier was renamed Joint Strike Wing and all remaining Harrier GR7 aircraft were retired.
Until 2010, it was intended that the Harrier GR9 fleet would be replaced by 138 STOVL-capable F-35B Lightning II aircraft around 2018. However, on 19 October 2010, as part of the UK government's Strategic Defence and Security Review, it was announced that the Harrier was to be retired by April 2011. It is now expected to be replaced by a smaller number of non-STOVL F-35C Lightning IIs. These are scheduled to be introduced by 2020, when a CATOBAR-capable CVF aircraft carrier enters service.
HMS Ark Royal, the final Royal Navy strike carrier, launched her final fixed wing aircraft on the 24th November 2010 when the four embarked Harrier GR9s left the ship to return to land. On the 15th December 2010, a 16 aircraft flypast from RAF Cottesmore marked the final operational flights of British Harriers. 1(F) Squadron, 4(R) Squadron and 800 NAS were disbanded on the 28th January 2011.
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