Joint Helicopter Command Integrated Review Refresh 2023

[AndyC]

The UK’s helicopter fleet has seen the harshest level of cuts since SDSR10 with helicopter numbers virtually halved from 515 in 2010 to 263 by 2023.

However, investment in the remaining fleet has been high with most helicopters undergoing significant modernisation. This includes the Apache AH1 to AH2, Merlin HM1/HC3 to HM2/HC4 respectively, Chinook HC3/HC4 to HC5/HC6A and Puma HC1 to HC2.

There are also new aircraft such as the Wildcat AH1/HMA2, Chinook HC6/HC7, New Medium Helicopters (NMH), Jupiter HC2 and Watchkeeper UAV.

With much reduced numbers Joint Helicopter Command (JHC) needs to make the most of its remaining helicopters. JHC faces two major challenges in the decade ahead; increasing its anti-armour capability and boosting the effectiveness of its anti-submarine warfare (ASW) within a very tight budget.


1 Aviation Brigade

A significant lesson from the conflict in Ukraine is the need to maximise the effectiveness of our anti-armour capability. For 1 Aviation Brigade the cornerstone of these improvements is an upgraded Apache AH2 attack helicopter based on the AH-64E Guardian design, armed with up to sixteen Joint Air-to-Ground Missiles (JAGM) and eight APKWS-II guided rockets.

Under existing plans fifty WAH-64D Apache helicopters are being remanufactured to the most modern standard by 2024. The process is being managed so that 12-13 helicopters are remanufactured at any one time with replacements being brought out of storage to maintain a fleet of 50. As there is a significant requirement to increase the UK’s anti-armour capabilities, and the cost of remanufacturing is relatively low, it is essential to remanufacture all of the remaining 63-strong Apache fleet.

Apache with JAGM.jpg

The increased number of Apache AH2 should be divided into six Squadrons and an OCU. Three frontline Squadrons could be allocated to the 3rd (UK) Division, two to 16 Air Assault Brigade and one to 3 Commando Brigade. At any one time two of these six Squadrons could be held at high readiness to be deployed as part of an Air Assault Task Force.

It would be desirable for the Army Air Corps to further increase its anti-armour capabilities by upgrading the Wildcat AH1 to carry a mix of up to eight Brimstone 3B or 20 Martlet lightweight air-to-surface missiles. This would increase their versatility and give them an effective anti-armour capability to add to their ISTAR role. They are currently divided into three Squadrons and an OCU. Of the three frontline Squadrons two are part of 1 Aviation Brigade and allocated to 16 Air Assault Brigade and one is part of the Fleet Air Arm and allocated to 3 Commando Brigade.

Wildcat Martlet firing.jpg

A total of 45 Watchkeeper UAV are now available with 21 in active service and 24 in storage to be called upon when needed. They are divided between three Batteries of the 47th Regiment Royal Artillery – one of which should be maintained at high readiness.


Fleet Air Arm

Currently, only the Commando Helicopter Force comes under the responsibility of the JHC but it would surely be more efficient to have all of the UK’s helicopter assets under one Command.

One of the greatest threats to the Royal Navy’s surface fleet, merchant shipping and ocean floor communication cables comes from submarines. The introduction of nine P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft and eight Type 26 Global Combat Ships, equipped with the Sonar 2087 towed array system, is strengthening both the long-range and short-range anti-submarine capabilities of Navy Command.

Medium-range ASW is primarily the responsibility of the Merlin HM2. 30 of these have been upgraded to be compatible with the ten new AEW Crowsnest radars so that they can be adapted very quickly to provide advanced early warning radar to the fleet.

Of a currently planned forward fleet of 20 Merlin helicopters - nine are allocated to ASW with the Carrier Strike Group, six are allocated to AEW (one from the OCU) and five would provide ASW training in the OCU in partnership with smaller ships.

If all ten Crowsnest radars were required this would leave only ten ASW Merlins to protect the whole surface fleet. Even if the surface fleet could manage with eight Crowsnest that would still leave only 12 ASW Merlins. It is quite clear that this is a wholly inadequate number, in any of these scenarios, to provide both effective ASW and AEW defence!

Merlin HMA2.jpg

The Sea Protector UCAV is currently being trialled under Project Mojave, to examine whether they can operate from a Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier. If workable, this would enhance the ASW capabilities of the Carrier Strike Group (CSG) due to the increased number of ASW platforms – adding six Sea Protector UCAV to the current force of at least ten Merlin HM2. The longer range and endurance of the Sea Protector UCAV would also provide a marked improvement in ASW capability.

The 28 Wildcat HMA2 are divided between two Squadrons and will operate with a mixture of Sea Venom medium anti-shipping missiles and Martlet lightweight air-to-surface missiles in an ASuW role and lightweight Sting Ray torpedoes in an ASW role.


Transport Helicopters

The UK’s Chinook fleet has grown to 60 in recent years. Its operational range is due to increase thanks to an order placed in 2021 for 14 extended-range Chinook HC7. This followed on from 14 Chinook HC6 that entered service between 2011-15 and 8 Chinook HC3, which were upgraded to HC5 standard in 2012. In addition, 38 older Chinooks were modernised to HC6A standard and 24 of these will remain in service beyond 2032.

The Merlin HC4 has been fully adapted to maritime operations to serve as the principal helicopter transport for amphibious operations.

Under SDSR15 the UK’s four different medium-lift helicopters were all to be replaced by a single New Medium Helicopter (NMH) over the next decade. As a stop gap measure, due to delays, six Airbus H145 Jupiter HC2 helicopters were ordered in 2023 to replace the Bell 212 and 412. At present the out of service date for the Puma HC2 remains 2025 but this may need to be extended to 2028. After this will come the retirement of the Dauphin. This would give sufficient time to order between 30 and 38 NMH. If, however, the remaining Apache AH1 are upgraded then only 30 NMH would be affordable.


Basing

The MoD in its report A Better Defence Estate, November 2016 outlined a plan to dispose of surplus bases.

Since then there has been growing pressure to provide new sites for housing, particularly in the South East of England. With land prices at a high level the MoD should go further in disposing of sites in high value property areas and relocating units to lower cost areas, preferably closer to military ranges to minimise flying costs.

This should include developing RAF Benson, RAF Odiham and AAC Middle Wallop for housing.

The Puma Wing and Chinook OCU at RAF Benson could relocate to JHC Honington, close to the Stanford training area.

The Chinook Wing at RAF Odiham could relocate to MoD Boscombe Down, in the heart of Salisbury Plain, or MoD Lyneham.

The training units at AAC Middle Wallop could be divided between JHC Yeovilton and MoD Woodbridge.


Conclusion

In total, there are five proposals listed here building on the IRR23 and prioritised between those that are essential, desirable and optional.

Those that are essential priorities include:
• remanufacturing the whole Apache WAH-64D fleet to AH-64E standard and standing up a sixth frontline Squadron
• ordering six H145 Jupiter HC2 and
30 New Medium Helicopters.

Those that are desirable include:
• integrating Brimstone 3B and Martlet missiles on to Wildcat AH1.

And those that are optional include:
• developing RAF Benson, RAF Odiham and AAC Middle Wallop for housing.


Joint Helicopter Command by 2032 could operate:
• 63 Apache AH2 in 7 Squadrons
• 34 Wildcat AH1 in 4 Squadrons
• 30 Merlin HM2 in 3 Squadrons
• 28 Wildcat HMA2 in 2 Squadrons
• 700 Brimstone 3B
• 3,000 JAGM
• 400 Hellfire, OSD 2024
• 800 APKWS-II
• 200 Sea Venom
• 2,000 Martlet
• 260 Sting Ray light torpedoes
• 70 Mk 54 light torpedoes with HAAWC
• 60 Chinook HC7/6/5/6A in 4 Squadrons
• 25 Merlin HC4 in 3 Squadrons
• 30 New Medium Helicopters (NMH) in 4 Squadrons and 2 Flights
6 Jupiter HC2 in 2 Flights and
• 45 Watchkeeper UAV in 3 Batteries.



Helicopters Operating Centre Budget 2022-32.


£1.4 billion in Uncommitted Equipment Procurement.


£1.36 billion for essential extras:
• £750 million for 30 New Medium Helicopters (NMH) – unit cost £25 million
• £470 million on refurbishing the remaining 13 WAH-64D to AH-64E standard – unit cost U$44 million; £/U$ rate 1.22 and
£140 million for six H145 Jupiter HC2 (contract signed, November 2023).

£50 million on desirable extras:
• £50 million to integrate Brimstone 3B and Martlet on to 34 Wildcat AH1 – unit cost £1.5 million.

Helicopters Operating Centre Budget Spending £1.4 billion.

[topman]

Add in building costs for all the units moving and personnel training and increase in numbers to make it work.

[Tempest414]

The best out come for JHC would be

Navy = 36 x Merlin HM2 4 Sqn's , 25 x Merlin HC4 2 Sqn's and 40 x Wildcat HMA2 3 Sqn's

RAF = 50 x Chinook 3 sqns , 30 x NMH 3 sqns

Army = 50 x Apache AH2 , 40 x NMH

Merlin HM2 based at Culdrose
Merlin HC4 Yeovilton
Wildcat HMA2 Yeovilton
Chinook Odiham , OCU Benson
NMH Benson and Wattisham , Joint OCU Benson
Apache Wattisham