Strike Command At NATO's Front Line

Description

Strike Command: At NATOs Front Line. The Royal Air Force flying units are today divided into two separate commands, Strike Command with its headquarters at High Wycombe and Support Command at Brampton. These two commands came about through the rationalization of the RAF structure and the withdrawal east of Suez, Incorporated within Strike Command are the former Fighter Command, Bomber Command, Transport Command and Coastal Command. These, however, are still represented principally through the Group system, although even the groups themselves have seen rationalization. Today therefore the command structure is split into three main groups dividing the RAFs front line assets into cohesive packages, although at the end of the day they are still all answerable to Strike Command Headquarters, and ultimately the Ministry of Defence. As with any major air force, the RAF is in a constant process of updating. In Strike Command the process of enhancing the sharp end is at present at its height with the introduction of the Tornado F.3 and Harrier GR.5 giving the command a vast mixture of assets. By virtue of this fact it is also perhaps to the photographer a time of major interest with the changing of types, schemes and markings. A fourth package of units also exists, determined by virtue of their geographical locations, which answer to Strike Command direct. In almost all cases these units are in fact supported by the other three groups within the command structure but they retain their autonomous nature for varying reasons.