County Armagh jet pilot to become next head of RAF

A former fighter pilot from County Armagh is to become the next professional head of the Royal Air Force (RAF).

Air Marshal Harv Smyth, who was born and educated in Lurgan, is to to take up the role of chief of the air staff in August.

Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed on Wednesday that the King had approved the appointment.

AM Smyth will succeed Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton following his promotion to chief of the defence staff..

AM Smyth joined the RAF in 1991 as a direct entrant after leaving school.

He spent 15 years as a frontline Harrier pilot and weapons instructor and flew hundreds of operational missions over Bosnia, Kosovo, Serbia, Iraq and Afghanistan.

The chief of the air staff is responsible for the strategic planning and delivery of all RAF operations, people and capability.

The position is accountable to the defence secretary for the fighting effectiveness, efficiency and morale as well as the development and sustainment of the RAF.

AM Smyth said he was "deeply honoured to have been selected".

The appointment comes at a transformative time for the RAF as it moves to warfighting readiness following the publication of the Strategic Defence Review.

"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", he added.

Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart welcomed AM Smyth's appointment.

"This is an incredible achievement and a truly proud moment for his family," the Democratic Unionist Party politician said.

She said his journey from Lurgan to the top of the RAF was a "powerful reminder of what can be achieved with determination and integrity".

"He is flying the flag high for Lurgan, for Upper Bann and for Northern Ireland", she said.