Lightning Force HQ

Lightning Force HQ
F-35B Lightning of 617 Squadron
Active 2018 -
Country  United Kingdom
Branch Ministry of Defence
-  Royal Air Force
-  Royal Navy
Aircraft flown
Attack F-35B Lightning II

The Lightning Force HQ is the overall command organisation controlling the operations of the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm and Royal Air Force. Following on from the principles developed in the operation of the UK's previous STOVL aircraft, the Harrier, the formation is a joint organisation falling under RAF Air Command.

History

The Lightning Force concept was established during the planning stages for the introduction into UK service of the F-35B, taking the idea that had previously been put in place for the operation of the Harrier. This saw the units of both the Fleet Air Arm and Royal Air Force amalgamated under a single command structure, with crews of both services intermixing in all units. Initially, two operational squadrons were formed to operate the F-35; in July 2013, 617 Squadron was announced as the first operational F-35 squadron,[1] while in September 2013, 809 Naval Air Squadron became the first Fleet Air Arm squadron.[2] These would be tasked primarily with operating from the Royal Navy's new Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, as well as from deployed air bases. The intention is to form two further squadrons, one each from the Fleet Air Arm and RAF, as well as an Operational Conversion Unit, which was formed as 207 Squadron in July 2017.[3]

In the summer of 2018, 617 Squadron began the process of bringing its new aircraft across the Atlantic to the home base of the new Lightning Force, RAF Marham in Norfolk.[4] The first four aircraft made the transit on 7 June 2018,[5] with another five following in August. In October 2018, HMS Queen Elizabeth undertook the first trial operations of F-35s during her deployment to the United States.[6] 617 Squadron is planned to declare initial operating capability for land based operations by the end of 2018, before beginning carrier trials.[7] 809 Naval Air Squadron is intended to reform by 2023.[8]

The Lightning Force was formed as a command organisation in October 2015.[9]

Lightning Force HQ units

References

  1. ↑ "RAF's 'Dambusters' squadron to be disbanded and reformed". BBC News. 18 July 2013. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  2. ↑ "'Immortal' Naval Air Squadron 809 NAS to fly Navy's newest jets". Royal Navy. 9 September 2013. Archived from the original on 18 December 2013. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  3. ↑ "Identity of F-35 Lightning Training Squadron Announced". RAF. 6 July 2017. Archived from the original on 28 July 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  4. ↑ "RAF Marham base for Joint Strike Fighter". BBC News. 25 March 2013. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  5. ↑ "Four RAF F-35 fighter jets land in UK". BBC News. 6 June 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  6. ↑ "UK Navy's F-35 aircraft begin flight trials on HMS Queen Elizabeth". Naval Technology. 1 October 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  7. ↑ "UK prepares for F-35B carrier trials". Flight Global. 27 September 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  8. ↑ Stevenson, Beth (20 May 2016). "UK F-35 commander highlights training challenge". Flight Global. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  9. ↑ "Lightning Force HQ". Twitter. Retrieved 14 October 2018.

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