At the end of the Cold War in 1989, the structure of the Royal Air Force (RAF) was as follows:

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) was an air chief marshal (ACM), who was the professional head in command the Royal Air Force. He was a member of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, the Defence Council, and the Air Force Board, which administered the Royal Air Force. The following positions were part of the Air Force Board:

Secretary of State for Defence – as Chairman Minister of State for the Armed Forces – as Vice-chairman Minister of State for Defence Procurement Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces Under-Secretary of State for Defence Procurement Chief of the Air Staff – with the rank of air chief marshal (generally the Chief of Air Staff would be promoted to the rank of Marshal of the Royal Air Force upon retirement at the conclusion of their term as CAS) Air Member for Personnel – with the rank of air marshal Air Member for Supply and Organisation – with the rank of air marshal Controller of Aircraft – usually an RAF officer with the rank of air marshal, though in 1989 it was held by a member of the Civil Service Second Permanent Under-Secretary of State and Controller R & D Establishments, Research and Nuclear

The manned strength of the Royal Air Force in 1989 was 93,300 personnel.

RAF Strike Command Royal Air Force Strike Command (RAF Strike Command, or RAF STC), was the main and primary command of the Royal Air Force, and was in charge of all operational (front-line or combat) Royal Air Force units and assets in the United Kingdom. Its Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C) was Air Chief Marshal Sir Patrick Hine, who double-hatted as NATO, Commander-in-Chief United Kingdom Air Forces (CINCUKAIR), which was a major subordinate command under NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe. In 1989, RAF Strike Command consisted of three major operational groups, along with its subordinate wings, squadrons and minor units; and also had administrative control of the Royal Observer Corps (ROC), which was tasked with nuclear warfare analysis and manned the UK's nuclear fallout warning service. UK Regional Air Operations Centre, RAF High Wycombe Headquarters No. 1 Group, RAF Upavon Headquarters No. 11 (Air Defence) Group, RAF Bentley Priory Headquarters No. 18 (Maritime) Group, Northwood Headquarters, doubled as NATO Commander Maritime Air Eastern Atlantic (COMAIREASTLANT) and Commander Allied Maritime Air Force Channel (COMAIRCHAN) Royal Observer Corps, RAF Bentley Priory, administrative control, but financed mostly by the Home Office under UK Warning and Monitoring Organisation Central Tactics and Trials Organisation, RAF High Wycombe Strike Command Air-to-Air Missile Establishment, RAF Valley Strike Command Integrated Communications System.

No. 1 Group

No. 1 Group Royal Air Force (1 Gp RAF) was the Royal Air Force group commanded by Air Vice-Marshal (AVM) Charles John Thomson (until February 1989), then AVM Ronald Andrew Fellowes Wilson (from February 1989), headquartered at RAF Upavon in Wiltshire. 1 Group contained varied aircraft, with the majority being strike aircraft. The group's main focus would have been bombing raids on advancing Soviet ground forces in Northern Germany as directed by NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR). The group fielded six squadrons of bomber aircraft, which could be armed with WE.177 free-fall tactical nuclear bombs, along with aerial refuelling tanker aircraft to ensure that the armed aircraft could deliver nuclear strikes deep inside enemy territory. No. 1 Group, group headquarters, RAF Upavon Mobile Air Operations Team, 244 Signal Squadron, Royal Corps of Signals, RAF Upavon RAF Aldergrove — under operational control of Headquarters Northern Ireland No. 72 Squadron RAF — Wessex HC2 No. 3 Squadron RAF Regiment — field RAF Benson No. 115 Squadron RAF — radio and airport navigation aid calibration, Andover C1 / E3 / E3A Queen's Flight — Royal Flight, BAe 146 CC2, Wessex HCC4 RAF Brize Norton No. 10 Squadron RAF — transport, 13x Vickers VC10 C1 No. 101 Squadron RAF — aerial refuelling, 9x Vickers VC10 K2 / K3 No. 216 Squadron RAF — aerial refuelling, transport, and cargo, 9x Tristar K1 / KC1 No. 241 Operational Conversion Unit RAF — trained Vickers VC10 and Tristar crews No. 19 Squadron RAF Regiment — air defence, Rapier launch stations, defending RAF Upper Heyford and RAF Fairford RAF Coltishall No. 6 Squadron RAF — tactical nuclear strike, ground attack / reconnaissance, 12x Jaguar GR1Anote 1 No. 41 Squadron RAF — reconnaissance, 12x Jaguar GR1A No. 54 Squadron RAF — tactical nuclear strike, ground attack / reconnaissance, 12x Jaguar GR1Anote 1 RAF Honington No. 13 Squadron RAF — reconnaissance, Tornado GR1A (activated 1 January 1990) No. 45 Squadron RAF — Tornado Weapons Conversion Unit, Tornado GR1note 1 No. 20 Squadron RAF Regiment — air defence, Rapier launch stations, defending RAF Alconbury, RAF Mildenhall, and RAF Lakenheath RAF Lyneham No. 24 Squadron RAF — tactical airlift, Hercules C1 / C3 No. 30 Squadron RAF — tactical airlift, Hercules C1 / C3 No. 47 Squadron RAF — tactical airlift, Hercules C1 / C3 No. 70 Squadron RAF — tactical airlift, Hercules C1 / C3 No. 242 Operational Conversion Unit RAF — Hercules C1 / C3 RAF Marham No. 27 Squadron RAF — tactical nuclear strike, ground attack / reconnaissance, Tornado GR1 No. 617 Squadron RAF — tactical nuclear strike, ground attack / reconnaissance, Tornado GR1 No. 55 Squadron RAF — aerial refuelling, 14x Victor K2 RAF Northolt No. 32 Squadron RAF — VIP flight, 12x BAe 125 CC2 / CC3, Andover CC2, Gazelle HCC4 RAF Odiham No. 7 Squadron RAF — air assault, Chinook HC1 No. 33 Squadron RAF — tactical airlift, Puma HC1 No. 240 Operational Conversion Unit RAF — Puma HC1, Chinook HC1 Support Helicopter Standards and Evaluation Flight RAF Wittering No. 1 Squadron RAF — tactical nuclear strike, ground attack / reconnaissance, Harrier GR5 No. 233 Operational Conversion Unit RAF — Harrier GR5 RAF Brawdy No. 1 Tactical Weapons Unit RAF No. 79 (R) Squadron RAF — Hawk T1A No. 234 (R) Squadron RAF — Hawk T1A RAF Chivenor No. 2 Tactical Weapons Unit RAF No. 63 (R) Squadron RAF — Hawk T1A No. 151 (R) Squadron RAF — Hawk T1A Note 1: Unit had a nuclear strike role with WE.177 tactical nuclear weapons.

No. 1 Group RAF also administered the flying units detached to Belize and the Falkland Islands: British Forces Belize, Belize City, Belize RAF Belize, Airport Camp, Ladyville No. 1417 Flight RAF — ground attack / reconnaissance, Harrier GR3 No. 1563 Flight RAF — Puma HC1 British Forces Falkland Islands, RAF Mount Pleasant, Falkland Islands RAF Mount Pleasant No. 78 Squadron RAF — air assault, Chinook HC1; Search & Rescue, Sea King HAR3 No. 1435 Flight RAF — air defence and reconnaissance, 4x Phantom FGR2 No. 1312 Flight RAF — aerial refuelling, 1x Hercules C1K.

No. 11 (Air Defence) Group

No. 11 (Air Defence) Group Royal Air Force (11 Gp RAF) was the Royal Air Force group commanded by Air Vice-Marshal Roger Hewlett Palin (until March) then William (Bill) John Wratten (from March), headquartered at RAF Bentley Priory. 11 Group was to defend the United Kingdom against all aerial threats, and fielded exclusively fighter aircraft and one air defence missile squadron. In 1989, the Royal Air Force was speedily replacing its ageing Phantom air defence fighter aircraft with the more modern and more capable Tornado F3, whose superior supersonic acceleration, powerful radar and beyond-visual-range missiles made it the ideal platform to intercept and destroy Soviet bombers intent on attacking the United Kingdom. In case of war, No. 11 (Air Defence) Group would have taken command of the five UK-based Hawk T1 training squadrons, which, armed with AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles would have become the last line of defence against Soviet air attacks. No. 11 (Air Defence) Group, group headquarters, RAF Bentley Priory RAF Coningsby No. 5 Squadron RAF — fighter, Tornado F3 No. 29 Squadron RAF — fighter, Tornado F3 No. 229 Operational Conversion Unit RAF — Tornado F3 (In case of war would have formed No. 65 Squadron RAF) Battle of Britain Memorial Flight — historic aircraft memorial, Lancaster B1, Hurricane, Spitfire RAF Leeming No. 11 Squadron RAF — fighter, Tornado F3 No. 23 Squadron RAF — fighter, Tornado F3 No. 25 Squadron RAF — fighter, Tornado F3 (operational from 1 August 1989) RAF Leuchars No. 43 Squadron RAF — fighter, Tornado F3 (conversion from Phantom FG1 to Tornado F3 completed in September 1989) No. 111 Squadron RAF — fighter / ground attack, Phantom FG1 (began to receive Tornado F3s in January 1990) No. 228 Operational Conversion Unit RAF — Phantom FGR2 (In case of war would have formed No. 64 Squadron RAF) No. 27 Squadron RAF Regiment — air defence, Rapier launch stations RAF Wattisham No. 56 Squadron RAF — fighter / ground attack / reconnaissance, Phantom FGR2 No. 74 Squadron RAF — fighter, Phantom F-4J(UK) F3 RAF West Raynham No. 66 Squadron RAF Regiment — air defence, Rapier launch stations, defending RAF Bentwaters and RAF Woodbridge No. 85 Squadron RAF — Bloodhound Mk II surface-to-air missiles; D, E and F flights joined the squadron when No. 25 Squadron converted to Tornado F3 on 1 August 1989. A Flight, at RAF West Raynham B Flight, at RAF North Coates C Flight, at RAF Bawdsey D Flight, at RAF Barkston Heath E Flight, at RAF Wattisham F Flight, at RAF Wyton RAF Fylingdales UK Ballistic Missile Early Warning System.

No. 18 (Maritime) Group

No. 18 (Maritime) Group Royal Air Force (No. 18 Group RAF, or 18Gp RAF) was the Royal Air Force group commanded by Air Marshal Andrew L. Roberts (until August) then David Emmerson (from August), headquartered at the Northwood Headquarters. During war, the Commander of No. 18 Group would also assume the titles of Commander Maritime Air Eastern Atlantic (COMAIREASTLANT) and Commander Allied Maritime Air Force Channel (COMAIRCHAN). In case of war, No. 18 Group's Maritime Air Region North would have assumed the titles of NATO Commander Maritime Air Northern Sub-Area (COMMAIRNORLANT) and NATO Commander Maritime Air Nore Sub-Area Channel (COMAIRNORECHAN), and taken command of Norwegian Air Force and US Navy P-3 Orion anti-submarine aircraft at Andøya Air Station and Naval Air Station Keflavik respectively, as well as the Keflavik-based US Air Force F-15C/D Eagles to prevent vessels of the Soviet Navy's Northern Fleet from passing through the GIUK gap.

The Maritime Headquarters units provided additional reserve personnel to man the operations rooms and communications centres that directed 18 Group and the Royal Navy.

The two Maritime Air Regions were amalgamated in 1987, and Pitrevie became the backup to Northwood HQ, becoming the location of Air Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland only. No. 18 (Maritime) Group, group headquarters, Northwood Headquarters, doubled as NATO Commander Maritime Air Eastern Atlantic (COMAIREASTLANT) and Commander Allied Maritime Air Force Channel (COMAIRCHAN) Maritime Air Region North, RAF Pitreavie Castle, Rosyth, commanded by an Air Vice-Marshal, who doubled as RAF Air Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland, and NATO Commander Maritime Air Northern Sub-Area (COMMAIRNORLANT) and Commander Maritime Air Nore Sub-Area Channel (COMAIRNORECHAN) RAF Kinloss No. 120 Squadron RAF — maritime patrol, Nimrod MR2 No. 201 Squadron RAF — maritime patrol, Nimrod MR2 No. 206 Squadron RAF — maritime patrol, Nimrod MR2 RAF Lossiemouth No. 8 Squadron RAF — airborne early warning and control, Avro Shackleton AEW2 (being replaced by 7x Sentry AEW1 aircraft, squadron was part of No. 11 (Air Defence) Group) No. 12 Squadron RAF — maritime attack, Buccaneer S2Bnote 1 No. 208 Squadron RAF — maritime attack, Buccaneer S2Bnote 1 No. 226 Operational Conversion Unit RAF — land strike, Jaguar GR1 (unit was part of No. 1 Group)note 1