Culdrose for QRA
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Devon, England
Culdrose for QRA
On local TV News this morning, they had a stint showing Culdrose and stating that it will now serve as a front line station "against terrorism" by operating QRA aircraft or in her terms, "Rapid Reaction Fighter Aircraft".
Surely even though St Mawgan will soon fall into Civil hands it would be better for them to be based there with the longer runway and the southern dispersal site?
Surely even though St Mawgan will soon fall into Civil hands it would be better for them to be based there with the longer runway and the southern dispersal site?
Last edited by Razor61; 20th October 2007 at 14:50.
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Temporarily missing from the Joe Louis Arena
I think the Sqn with the same number as your posts might take exception to that one.
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From: Sheffield
It's an absolute farce. I notice that the newspaper didn't bother to raise the question as to why the MoD was abandoning a huge, well-equipped airfield and confining it's QRA activities to a tiny helicopter base with a piddling 6,000 foot runway... but then this would annoy the local politicians who effectively drove the MoD away after failing to persuade them to maintain an empty airfield so that they could run an airport for free.
I really don't know who is more stupid - the MoD for letting such a valuable asset go, or the local bigwigs for thinking the MoD would pay for their airport, but play with their RAF planes nice and quietly so as not to upset anyone.
Still, the whole concept borders on complete absurdity. I can't quite grasp the concept of "Quick" Reaction Alert if the fighter detachment requires a few days of advance warning to get over there. Presumably the terrorists will be kind enough as to advise the RAF of their intentions? Oh well, it'll make a nice photo-shoot for the media at some stage I guess - the Daily Mail readers will be able to sleep happy in their beds
I really don't know who is more stupid - the MoD for letting such a valuable asset go, or the local bigwigs for thinking the MoD would pay for their airport, but play with their RAF planes nice and quietly so as not to upset anyone.
Still, the whole concept borders on complete absurdity. I can't quite grasp the concept of "Quick" Reaction Alert if the fighter detachment requires a few days of advance warning to get over there. Presumably the terrorists will be kind enough as to advise the RAF of their intentions? Oh well, it'll make a nice photo-shoot for the media at some stage I guess - the Daily Mail readers will be able to sleep happy in their beds
Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Devon
Why not a (regenerated) Sea Jet or two from RNSFDO? As mentioned on the Sea Jet thread.
Or FRADU Hawks with Sidewinder?
Both of these are less than logical suggestions I know, but I had to get the link in somehow. Of course, the Typhoon radar was developed from the SHAR FA2's Blue Vixen.
How is the RAF expected to do more QRA with less fighter aircraft than just a few years ago?
Or FRADU Hawks with Sidewinder?
Both of these are less than logical suggestions I know, but I had to get the link in somehow. Of course, the Typhoon radar was developed from the SHAR FA2's Blue Vixen.
How is the RAF expected to do more QRA with less fighter aircraft than just a few years ago?
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From: Overseas
The RAF will not be doing any more QRA than it is at present. This is a non-story. Culdrose will just be taking over the job that Mawgan had, but never used. We are not deploying jets there to man QRA, but it is there if we ever need it.
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From: London FIR
Well, in that case, Q to Northolt
.... oh thats right, the taxiways are all breaking up or are already unfit for aircraft ops, so they'd never get to the runway in the first place!
Screw runway extensions lets maintain the surfaces we already have first
Sorry, the soapbox has been put away
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From: Exiled in England
It's all a ploy to let the cornish think they willl still have mil investment. its never going to happen and my beloved home will disappear up its own 4rsehole driven by TV chefs and Nimby's moaning aboout the sound of overtime
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From: RAF Lincolnshire
MinAF Statement on Culdrose
Airfield Review (Tertiary Airfield Support)
The Minister for the Armed Forces (Mr. Bob Ainsworth): On 18 July 2002, Official Report, columns 460-464, my right hon. Friend, the Member for Ashfield (Mr Hoon) the then Secretary of State for Defence, announced the publication of a new chapter to the 1998 Strategic Defence Review (SDR) that was designed to ensure that our defence policies, capabilities and force structures matched the challenges that the new terrorist threats posed.
Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) comprises: armed Tornado F3 and Typhoon aircraft held at ground readiness for immediate take-off; the Air Surveillance and Control System to provide warning and command and control of the fighter aircraft; and tanker aircraft also held at high ground readiness. QRA fulfils two concurrent functions. Firstly, it meets the United Kingdom's responsibility within NATO to provide air policing of agreed member airspace. Secondly, under UK national control, QRA provides an airborne contribution to countering threats against the UK by terrorist organisations or individuals. The SDR New Chapter confirmed that airfields across the UK—RAF Marham, RAF St Mawgan and RNAS Yeovilton—would be able to support QRA aircraft when needed, in addition to the bases from which the QRA aircraft usually operate.
Following the decision to dispose of the airfield at RAF St Mawgan, we have reviewed the short term tertiary airfields that support quick reaction alert aircraft and decided that MOD Boscombe Down and RNAS Culdrose will now be enabled by Spring 2008 to cover any potential threats to the south and south-western airspaces. In the interim, RAF St Mawgan will continue to be utilised as necessary to support short term QRA aircraft. RAF Marham will continue to be maintained as a tertiary QRA airfield. This support is in addition to the bases that are already able to operate such aircraft and will give us enhanced flexibility in our air defence arrangements.
The Minister for the Armed Forces (Mr. Bob Ainsworth): On 18 July 2002, Official Report, columns 460-464, my right hon. Friend, the Member for Ashfield (Mr Hoon) the then Secretary of State for Defence, announced the publication of a new chapter to the 1998 Strategic Defence Review (SDR) that was designed to ensure that our defence policies, capabilities and force structures matched the challenges that the new terrorist threats posed.
Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) comprises: armed Tornado F3 and Typhoon aircraft held at ground readiness for immediate take-off; the Air Surveillance and Control System to provide warning and command and control of the fighter aircraft; and tanker aircraft also held at high ground readiness. QRA fulfils two concurrent functions. Firstly, it meets the United Kingdom's responsibility within NATO to provide air policing of agreed member airspace. Secondly, under UK national control, QRA provides an airborne contribution to countering threats against the UK by terrorist organisations or individuals. The SDR New Chapter confirmed that airfields across the UK—RAF Marham, RAF St Mawgan and RNAS Yeovilton—would be able to support QRA aircraft when needed, in addition to the bases from which the QRA aircraft usually operate.
Following the decision to dispose of the airfield at RAF St Mawgan, we have reviewed the short term tertiary airfields that support quick reaction alert aircraft and decided that MOD Boscombe Down and RNAS Culdrose will now be enabled by Spring 2008 to cover any potential threats to the south and south-western airspaces. In the interim, RAF St Mawgan will continue to be utilised as necessary to support short term QRA aircraft. RAF Marham will continue to be maintained as a tertiary QRA airfield. This support is in addition to the bases that are already able to operate such aircraft and will give us enhanced flexibility in our air defence arrangements.
