Ground based air defence was first used by the British Armed Forces during the First World War and was a capability that sat predominantly under the army's Royal Regiment of Artillery.

Ground based air defence moved away from a centralised joint command and control structure to a single-service activity.

In the army, the command was replaced by one of its subordinate formations 7 (Air Defence) Brigade) (which itself was cut in size over time).

In the same year, a team led by a Royal Navy officer (to ensure impartiality) was established to assess which service's units should endure.

However, the army's refusal to release the two Starstreak-equipped VSHORAD units, who provided intimate support to their combat brigades, resulted in JtGBAD HQ having a smaller span of command than had initially been envisaged.

JGBAD HQ also played a part in UK home security operations, notably the 2012 London Olympic Games.

[12] Units which were under the command of Joint Ground Based Air Defence Headquarters prior to its disbandment.