Hardly a surprising concept.
Consider - Tpt fleet effectively funded by the Army vote.
BH funded by the Army - Less a few yellow canaries and a few senior helitaxis at Northholt, all other RAF helicopters under JHC - part of LAND Command (Army) or DSF (Army).
By default therefore most of TSW supports the Army direct.
Griffon in Cyprus supports SBA's (et al Army), de-facto SAR role is merely a sideshow. 412 of 60 Sqn is funded by the Adjutant General - thats an Army appointment.
All CAS effectively supports Army units (Cdo Bde considered Army for Ops purposes).
SHORAD & VSHORAD now fully under Royal Artillery (Army unit) control - RAF only provides FIND function.
Sentinal R1 - Army funded and tasked. Less the aircraft handling / engineering bit..operationally commanded by an Army officer!
AAC (Army unit) has responsibility for airworthiness of all UAV, to include Watchkeeper.
RIC supports the Army in NI.
The Royal Signals (Army unit) provide all tactical / theatre communications for CAS / BH and Tac Tpt.
The Royal Engineers (Army unit) build /repair runways
The Royal Logistic Corps (Army unit) provide all 2nd line fuel for deployed units. Also Air Despatchers, Load Riggers etc.
The Army currently operates more rotary aircraft than the RAF and FAA combined - with a fraction of the manpower and costs!
The "oldest Air Force" was an Army unit from 1911 - 1918, with Army badges of rank. The first CAS was an ex-Army Major. Upavon (the true home of the RAF) is now an Army barracks, as are most ex-RAF bases.
Most other RAF functions are now joint - Logistics DLO, Transport Trg - DSMT, Joint NBC Regt, Basic Technical Trg - Cosford, DHFS, JEFTS. Communications - DCISS Blandford Forum. Service Police Centre in bound.
Not an exhaustive list..but you get the point.
Oh..must not forget the MR boys..but they really support Fleet!
That leaves a few pointy things at Leeming / Leuchars, a few trainers, a lack lustre Display Team, couple of R1's and tankers.
So..some bean counter looking hard at the junior service to perhaps wrap it up into some larger Defence Force.is hardly surprising. What is surprising is with the enormous histrorical connections, requirement for direct support and funding given to the RAF by the Army, is how poor the RAF is at understanding how the Army works
