The Defence Secretary has confirmed that His Majesty
The King has approved the appointment of the new Chief of the Air
Staff.
Air Marshal Harv Smyth will succeed Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich
Knighton in August 2025. He joined the RAF in 1991 as a direct
entrant and then spent 15 years as a frontline Harrier pilot and
weapons instructor having flown hundreds of operational missions
over Bosnia, Kosovo, Serbia, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Since his promotion to Air Commodore in 2015, Air Marshal Smyth
has held a range of command positions and is currently the Deputy
Chief of the Defence Staff for Military Strategy and Operations.
The appointment comes at a transformative time for the RAF as it
moves to warfighting readiness following the publication of the
Strategic Defence Review, including the recent announcement that
the UK will purchase 12
F-35A fighter jets and join NATO's nuclear mission as the
government delivers greater security for working people through
its Plan for Change.
The Chief of the Air Staff is responsible for the strategic
planning and delivery of all Royal Air Force operations, people
and capability. The position is accountable to the Secretary of
State for Defence for the fighting effectiveness, efficiency and
morale as well as the development and sustainment of the RAF.
Defence Secretary MP, said:
I warmly congratulate Air Marshal Harv Smyth on his appointment
as Chief of the Air Staff. He has outstanding credentials to lead
the RAF in a crucial period of transformation for the force.
Air Marshal Smyth has led a distinguished career to date. From
spending 15 years as a frontline Harrier pilot and weapons
instructor, to flying hundreds of operational missions from both
land bases and aircraft carriers, to holding numerous vital
command positions, he has served our nation loyally.
I would also like to recognise Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich
Knighton's superb leadership of the RAF over the last two years.
I know he and Air Marshal Smyth will work together to deliver a
landmark shift in our deterrence and defence.
The RAF is always globally deployed and ready to defend the
nation. RAF pilots and aircrew are currently deployed on
Operation SHADER to combat Daesh terrorists in Iraq and Syria, in
Qatar as part of our joint Typhoon squadron, and in Eastern
Europe as part of the NATO Enhanced Air Policing mission to deter
Russia.
Incoming Chief of the Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir
Rich Knighton, said:
I am absolutely delighted that Air Marshal Harv Smyth has been
selected as the next Chief of the Air Staff, and I have every
confidence that he will lead the Royal Air Force brilliantly and
make sure we are ready to fly and fight.
As I hand over to Air Marshal Smyth, I know that under his
command the Royal Air Force will go from strength to strength to
ensure that we are always ready to protect and promote our
national interests on the world stage. I wish him every success
and look forward to working with him in leadership of our Armed
Forces.
This announcement comes following Sir Rich Knighton's promotion
to Chief of the Defence
Staff, a role he will take up in September.
Air Marshal Harv Smyth, said:
I am deeply honoured to have been selected as the next Chief of
the Air Staff at such an important time for the Royal Air Force.
The Strategic Defence Review makes clear the need for us to
rapidly evolve and modernise to meet current and future threats
and I am enormously proud to lead the Service at such a crucial
point in our history.
I take over from Sir Rich Knighton, who has achieved so much over
the past two years, preparing the Royal Air Force for the
challenges that we currently face and developing the operational
mindset that we need, should we transition to conflict. I share
in his unwavering support for our people and am delighted to have
this opportunity to lead our Whole Force as we deliver
outstanding Air and Space Power for the UK and NATO.
