Joint Helicopter Command: The 'Purple' Evolution of Rotary-Wing Aviation

摘要

The role of rotary-wing forces in operational maneuver over land, over water, and in the littoral is a critical enabling capability in current and evolving U.S. doctrine. The helicopter is ubiquitous, but joint helicopter operational doctrine, operating and maintenance procedures are not. Individual service cultures cultivate helicopter operating concepts that perpetuate intraservice relevance, but do not leverage the role of rotary-wing aviation in an integrated approach to joint warfighting. This paper examines the role of the United Kingdom's Joint Helicopter Command (JHC) in transforming Britain's ability to deliver effective combat helicopter forces to the Joint Commander. It illustrates how the JHC architecture supports effects based operations through an integrated joint approach to doctrine, infrastructure, training support and supportability across the Services. Finally, based on an established requirement to continue integration of U.S. helicopter forces, the paper suggests a U.S. Joint Rotary-Wing Command concept, prototyped on the JHC.