Further Letter to the Chairman from the
Secretary of State for Defence on Joint Force 2000
You will recall my letter of 23 February in
which I informed you of the proposal, subject to consultation,
to develop Joint Force 2000 (JF 2000).
As I explained, JF 2000 is a joint initiative
between the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force which aims to build
on the success the two Services have had operating Sea Harrier
FA2s and Harrier GR7s in joint carrier air groups. JF 2000 has
the ultimate objective of becoming a force using a common aircraft
type able to operate with equal effectiveness from both land and
sea. This will be achieved by collocating the RN Sea Harrier Squadrons
from RNAS Yeovilton with the RAF Harrier Squadrons at RAF Cottesmore
and RAF Wittering in 2003 and, ultimately, bringing into service
the Future Carrier Borne Aircraft which it is intended should
replace both the Sea Harrier and Harrier aircraft.
Formal consultation with all interested parties
has now concluded and no representations or comments have been
received; I now intend, therefore, to proceed with our plans to
develop JF 2000.
31 May 1999
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