The Joint Expeditionary Force is a British task force which will consist of forces from Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands and Norway.

The Joint Expeditionary Force is a British task force which will consist of, as necessary, forces from Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands and Norway.

HMS Ocean is to lead the force to the Mediterranean in the autumn, the deployment is to replace the previous COUGAR deployments.

The UK will be deploying the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, British Army and Royal Air Force.

The aim of the JEF is to create a UK military framework, focused around its existing and upcoming British high readiness capabilities, that its partners can join up with. While it is the UK’s intention to fully integrate the UK’s JEF partners’ contributions before 2018, the JEF could deploy immediately if required. It is designed with the following requirements in mind:

“a. act jointly and with allies, but able to act alone”
“b. be well equipped, but not tied to platforms”
“c. adapt as the environment changes”

Speaking before the Royal United Services Institute, Sir David Richards outlined the specific applications that the capabilities of the Joint Expeditionary Force will allow:

“With the capability to ‘punch’ hard and not be a logistical or tactical drag on a coalition, we will be especially welcomed by our friends and feared by our enemies. JEF will be capable of projecting power with global effect and influence. Nowhere is more important to us than our friends in the Middle East and Gulf and in line with clear political intent we would expect, with other initiatives, for JEF elements to spend more time reassuring and deterring in that region.”

The UK’s contribution will include the lead commando, airborne, armoured, aviation, air and maritime task groups.

The Defence Secretary said:

“I am very pleased that we have signed a letter of intent with our partners to establish the Joint Expeditionary Force.

This will be developed around the UK’s existing high readiness units and will provide a capability that can respond anywhere in the world, in any environment, as part of a coalition, or on behalf of international organisations such as the UN and NATO.

We are stronger together. Our partners from Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands and Norway have all agreed to attach forces to the JEF when the time is right for us to stand together.”

The force will be a pool of high-readiness forces that can respond quickly to a range of issues, using combat power, conventional deterrence or humanitarian assistance. Such assistance could include setting up responses similar to that deployed to tackle the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

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George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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Nigel
Nigel
7 years ago

So who is going to supply the carrier air power? It’s been proven time and time again that air power is a necessary part of any task group

Hector Mac Gillivray
7 years ago

Must be an old photo to include Lusty under way! Wishful thinking?

Robert Abernethy
7 years ago

To think that two months ago the paranoiacs would have been swarming this declaring that the EU was going to “steal our military”.

UK Defence Journal
7 years ago

Hi Robert, trust me, we oddly still get that kind of nonsense even this week.

Max Baker
7 years ago

We don’t have any ships ….

UK Defence Journal
7 years ago
Reply to  Max Baker

Hi Max, we do.

Max Baker
7 years ago
Reply to  Max Baker

all warm water blue ocean capable ?

Graham Mann
7 years ago

Belfast?
Victory
Bronnington

Brian Mooney
7 years ago

Hope the type 45’s will have enough electricity to power the ships,and fuel to be able to sail at more than 15 knots.
And yes,I would go mad if the plan was from the eu in Brussels,our armed services are for GREAT BRITAIN TO DECIDE WHERE WHEN OR WHY.
NATO AND THE UN,WILL BE TAKEN IN TO OUR USE,BUT NOT THE COMMON MARKET

monica dahlby
monica dahlby
6 years ago

Stay at home and leave people in peace. Why must GB make war all over the world. Disgusting.