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Reorganised on 1 April 2000 as a result of fundamental changes in the UK's strategic and military posture, Strike Command's ability to react to crises and undertake expeditionary operations has been greatly enhanced with the establishment of the Joint Rapid Reaction Force and other Tri-Service organisations such as Joint Helicopter Command and Joint Force Harrier.
The new look Strike Command continues to be based on 3 Groups but these have been organised around operational capability and collocated at High Wycombe to streamline command and control as well as generate better links between force elements with a similar role. No 11/18 Group, formed from No 11 Group - of Battle of Britain fame - and No 18 Group - famous for its maritime heritage - was disbanded, along with No 38 Group which operated the Hercules, VC 10 and Tristar aircraft. The three 'new' Groups are:
No 1 Group is responsible for all strike attack and offensive support aircraft, remains and now bolstered by the inclusion of Tornado F3 units from the former No 11/18 Group. With the exception of the Harrier, the reformed No 1 Group operates all the RAF's frontline aircraft including, in the future, the Eurofighter. The 6 UK stations that are currently controlled by 1 Group are RAF Coltishall, RAF Coningsby, RAF Leeming, RAF Leuchars, RAF Lossiemouth & RAF Marham, plus RAFU Goose Bay in Canada.
No 2 Group operates all the aircraft and force elements that support frontline operations. These will include the air transport and air-to-air refuelling aircraft formerly in No 38 Group and the Nimrod R and Sentry aircraft from No 11/18 Group as well as the RAF Regiment and Ground Based Air Defence systems. The Group will also be responsible, in the future, for ASTOR.
No 3 Group which last saw service operating V-Bombers in the 1960s, is now the home of the new Joint Force Harrier. The Group also includes Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft, Search and Rescue helicopters and the RAF's Mountain Rescue Teams. The Harriers and Sea Harriers are based at RAF Cottesmore and RAF Wittering as a joint force capable of operating either from land or the Royal Navy's carriers. Uniquely, the Air Officer Commanding No 3 Group will be a naval officer.
Other changes in the structure have been made to forge the Command's staffs into an even more responsive unit capable of delivering of air power anywhere in the world, but the restructuring has been an important step in the ongoing process to make best use of available resources to meet Strike Command's mission. Where savings have been made, Strike Command has re-directed some resources to capitalise on lessons learned and build new and stronger capabilities within the Command.
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