Mildenhall US air base personnel to move to Cotswolds by 2023
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Mildenhall US air base personnel to move to Cotswolds by 2023
On the BBC website today.
More than 500 US Air Force (USAF) personnel and their families will move from a closing air base by 2023.
The USAF and Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced two squadrons at RAF Mildenhall will be relocated to RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.
The closure of the Suffolk base was announced in 2015 but the plan has been delayed.
It is expected the move will bring "substantial" financial benefits for the Cotswolds.
From RAF Fairford, the USAF personnel - part of the 95th Reconnaissance Squadron and the 488th Intelligence Squadron - will provide the support mission for the RC-135 surveillance aircraft. The base is already the only European base for American heavy bombers.
The move was announced by Defence minister Tobias Ellwood.
He said: "For more than a hundred years now our armed forces have fought in defence of our common values and interests. Our two countries have developed the deepest, broadest and most advanced defence relationship of any two nations.
"The agreement to relocate the United States Rivet Joint capability to RAF Fairford cements US presence at the base and will bring substantial benefits to Gloucestershire and local communities."
As part of the relocation - which will involve flight crew, maintenance, intelligence analysts and communications personnel - there will be some infrastructure work and the MoD has said it is expected to bring "financial benefits".
Cotswolds MP Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown said: "The presence of over 1,200 personnel and dependants to the area will bring substantial financial benefits to the local economy and our local community."
RAF Mildenhall is home to more than 3,000 personnel as well as another 1,000 dependents and USAF Europe estimates the base has a £230.73m economic impact on the local area.
The MoD believes the full US drawdown from Mildenhall will not be completed until 2024 at the earliest.
West Suffolk MP Matt Hancock said the "last thing we want is for the base to be mothballed".
The Conservative MP said: "As and when the drawdown happens we need to make sure we use the land in a sensible way that benefits the local area and crucially make sure all of the people who are affected are supported."
The USAF and Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced two squadrons at RAF Mildenhall will be relocated to RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.
The closure of the Suffolk base was announced in 2015 but the plan has been delayed.
It is expected the move will bring "substantial" financial benefits for the Cotswolds.
From RAF Fairford, the USAF personnel - part of the 95th Reconnaissance Squadron and the 488th Intelligence Squadron - will provide the support mission for the RC-135 surveillance aircraft. The base is already the only European base for American heavy bombers.
The move was announced by Defence minister Tobias Ellwood.
He said: "For more than a hundred years now our armed forces have fought in defence of our common values and interests. Our two countries have developed the deepest, broadest and most advanced defence relationship of any two nations.
"The agreement to relocate the United States Rivet Joint capability to RAF Fairford cements US presence at the base and will bring substantial benefits to Gloucestershire and local communities."
As part of the relocation - which will involve flight crew, maintenance, intelligence analysts and communications personnel - there will be some infrastructure work and the MoD has said it is expected to bring "financial benefits".
Cotswolds MP Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown said: "The presence of over 1,200 personnel and dependants to the area will bring substantial financial benefits to the local economy and our local community."
RAF Mildenhall is home to more than 3,000 personnel as well as another 1,000 dependents and USAF Europe estimates the base has a £230.73m economic impact on the local area.
The MoD believes the full US drawdown from Mildenhall will not be completed until 2024 at the earliest.
West Suffolk MP Matt Hancock said the "last thing we want is for the base to be mothballed".
The Conservative MP said: "As and when the drawdown happens we need to make sure we use the land in a sensible way that benefits the local area and crucially make sure all of the people who are affected are supported."
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This has been all over the Anglia Region News.
When I first saw it, the premise was that it was only the RC135s to Fairford. I understood the SF Lot (V22 and C130) was bound for Germany.
Not sure how many RC135s they have at Mildenhall or if this involves the tankers but would it not make better sense to co-locate to Waddington with our Rivet Joint.
When Waddington was closed 51 operated from Mildenhall. As I understand they are pretty much integrated anyway.
BBC main news saying what a bonus it will be for the Gloucestershire economy.
Could not understand why the BBC kept referring to Mildenhall as a bomber base. they did show some historic footage on the Local BBC news showing Lancasters and B29s during or just after the war.
When I first saw it, the premise was that it was only the RC135s to Fairford. I understood the SF Lot (V22 and C130) was bound for Germany.
Not sure how many RC135s they have at Mildenhall or if this involves the tankers but would it not make better sense to co-locate to Waddington with our Rivet Joint.
When Waddington was closed 51 operated from Mildenhall. As I understand they are pretty much integrated anyway.
BBC main news saying what a bonus it will be for the Gloucestershire economy.
Could not understand why the BBC kept referring to Mildenhall as a bomber base. they did show some historic footage on the Local BBC news showing Lancasters and B29s during or just after the war.
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This has been all over the Anglia Region News.
Not sure how many RC135s they have at Mildenhall or if this involves the tankers but would it not make better sense to co-locate to Waddington with our Rivet Joint.
When Waddington was closed 51 operated from Mildenhall. As I understand they are pretty much integrated anyway.
Not sure how many RC135s they have at Mildenhall or if this involves the tankers but would it not make better sense to co-locate to Waddington with our Rivet Joint.
When Waddington was closed 51 operated from Mildenhall. As I understand they are pretty much integrated anyway.
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Greylees? The one south of Cranwell? That's an easy commute when the snow is laying!
I don't suppose a MoD build adjacent to the base on extant fields would pass Planning.
I don't suppose a MoD build adjacent to the base on extant fields would pass Planning.
It would make more sense to collocate the RAF RJs with the USAF ones at RAF Fairford and leave space for the extra Protectors at RAF Waddington. Rumours are that Sentinel will run on and the E3D replacement rumours are already well known.
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GIven the £millions recently spent on 51 Sqn new headquarters at Waddo, it's probably quite likely that they'll move. Their hangar would become vacant for the P-8 fleet at some point in the future too.
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https://www.forces.net/news/more-fai...ce-remembrance
RAF Lakenheath from the air (Picture: US Dept Of Defense).
The first F-35A training deployment overseas was marked by an arrival at RAF Lakenheath in 2017 (Picture: US Air Force).
The Ministry of Defence has awarded a contract worth £160m make RAF Lakenheath ready to host two squadrons of US F-35 aircraft.The Suffolk base to become the first permanent international site for American F-35s in Europe, with the first of the new aircraft arriving in 2021.Kier VolkerFitzpatrick will deliver infrastructure to prepare Lakenheath for the role, including the construction of a flight simulator facility, a maintenance unit, new hangars and storage facilities.
More than $1bn is expected to be invested in the UK in the next ten years.Minister for Defence People and Veterans, Tobias Ellwood, said: “For more than one hundred years now our armed forces have fought in defence of our common values and interests.
The Ministry of Defence has awarded a contract worth £160m make RAF Lakenheath ready to host two squadrons of US F-35 aircraft.The Suffolk base to become the first permanent international site for American F-35s in Europe, with the first of the new aircraft arriving in 2021.Kier VolkerFitzpatrick will deliver infrastructure to prepare Lakenheath for the role, including the construction of a flight simulator facility, a maintenance unit, new hangars and storage facilities.
The flight simulator will have the capacity to link to other simulators used by pilots across the UK and beyond, allowing expertise to be shared and pilots from the UK and US to train together on a regular basis.The announcement comes after the US pledged to spend $148,467,000 (roughly £116,730,694) on at Lakenheath.
More than $1bn is expected to be invested in the UK in the next ten years.Minister for Defence People and Veterans, Tobias Ellwood, said: “For more than one hundred years now our armed forces have fought in defence of our common values and interests.
“Our two countries have developed the deepest, broadest and most advanced relationship of any two nations," he said.
RAF Lakenheath from the air (Picture: US Dept Of Defense).“Today marks another step towards reinforcing the strong partnership between our two nations and an exciting milestone for RAF Lakenheath.“This investment will see substantial benefits to local economy, bringing 1,000 new personnel with their families and we will work hard to ensure that the benefits will last long after construction ends."USAF 48th Fighter Wing Commander, Colonel Will Marshall, said: “This is an exciting milestone for the 48th Fighter Wing and for all our partners."We’re transforming RAF Lakenheath together, and the work we do today is critical to the future security of the United States, the United Kingdom and the NATO Alliance.”
I have seen it stated somewhere -though for the life of me I can't remember where- that there is a plan to base RAF RC-135s alongside their US counterparts at Fairford. Could make life a bit difficult for RIAT.
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Many years ago when at BZN we lived in new-build houses at Ampney Orchard n Bampton, purchased for use as AMQ. They were all sold off, along with an estate of 1950s MoD married quarters next to Ampney Orchard. Here we go again!
Lakenheath is to be substantially rebuilt to accommodate USAF F35 in the UK. Understood. Literally next door is Mildenhall which is to close and if other ex USAFE bases are anything to go by rot away.
All Mildenhall's show will then be moved cross country to Fairford which is effectively a FOB with runways and pans but not a 'base' in that sense. This will also require a massive spend.
Unless it's a ruse where Fairford is rebuilt, Lakenheath is secure for decades and Mildenhall is 'closed' except all buildings and facilities are able to be utilised and the airfield is kept in use as a standby?
[QUOTE=Shaft109;10318448]Hello - I'm sure someone could explain what I'm missing here.
Fairford which is effectively a FOB with runways and pans but not a 'base' in that sense. This will also require a massive spend.
-----------------------------------
Totally incorrect.
Fairford had all the following upgrades built in the 2000 to 2008 timeframe to fully equip it as the European FOB for up to 50 x B-2 / B-1 / B-52 and associated tankers.
- $12M Bomber Operations Block (adjacent to ATC).
- Environmentally controlled B-2 Hangar and associated attached offices.
- Totally remodeled / upgraded 1950s hangar and associated attached offices for U-2 / KC-135.
- Deployable shelter hangar for B-2 within armed aircraft parking area.
- 50+ bomber size parking slots - many with hydrant refueling.
- Multiple Jet Supply Fuel Installations (Hardened BFIs in RAF parlance) - sufficient to sustain 50 x large aircraft ops when NATO pipeline daily capacity exceeded.
- New fuel spillage intercepted aircraft refueling bowser parking areas.
- New Fuels Control Building.
- New Security Forces Building.
- New Forward Explosives Storage Area (most stocks at RAF Welford).
- Detachment operations blocks x 2 in SW dispersal area refurbished in 2005.
It also has multiple other hangars and deployable shelters accommodating much pre-stocked equipment for all relevant types.
It is in fact one of the best equipped and maintained bases in the UK for its role and will not require a massive spend (by USAF standards) to equip it for RC-135 operations.
Fairford which is effectively a FOB with runways and pans but not a 'base' in that sense. This will also require a massive spend.
-----------------------------------
Totally incorrect.
Fairford had all the following upgrades built in the 2000 to 2008 timeframe to fully equip it as the European FOB for up to 50 x B-2 / B-1 / B-52 and associated tankers.
- $12M Bomber Operations Block (adjacent to ATC).
- Environmentally controlled B-2 Hangar and associated attached offices.
- Totally remodeled / upgraded 1950s hangar and associated attached offices for U-2 / KC-135.
- Deployable shelter hangar for B-2 within armed aircraft parking area.
- 50+ bomber size parking slots - many with hydrant refueling.
- Multiple Jet Supply Fuel Installations (Hardened BFIs in RAF parlance) - sufficient to sustain 50 x large aircraft ops when NATO pipeline daily capacity exceeded.
- New fuel spillage intercepted aircraft refueling bowser parking areas.
- New Fuels Control Building.
- New Security Forces Building.
- New Forward Explosives Storage Area (most stocks at RAF Welford).
- Detachment operations blocks x 2 in SW dispersal area refurbished in 2005.
It also has multiple other hangars and deployable shelters accommodating much pre-stocked equipment for all relevant types.
It is in fact one of the best equipped and maintained bases in the UK for its role and will not require a massive spend (by USAF standards) to equip it for RC-135 operations.
Last edited by RAFEngO74to09; 23rd Nov 2018 at 18:40.
Construction of a new 95RS operations facility and other required upgrades are in the (US) Department of the Air Force Military Construction Program Budget Estimates for FY2018 as follows:
RC-135 Intel & Sqn Ops Facility: $38M
RC-135 Runway Overrun Reconfiguration: $5.5M
RC-135 $2.15M
Total: $45.65M
Souce: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...j_kdRrjRfK-Hc5 Page 10
RC-135 Intel & Sqn Ops Facility: $38M
RC-135 Runway Overrun Reconfiguration: $5.5M
RC-135 $2.15M
Total: $45.65M
Souce: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...j_kdRrjRfK-Hc5 Page 10
Even more improvements have been requested for RAF Fairford in the FY2019 program under European Defense Initiative (non-RC-135 related):
Flight Line Munitions Holding Area: $19M
Deployable Air Base System - Facilities, Equipment & Vehicles (DABS-FEV) Storage Complex (would free up an aircraft hangar and replaces 2 x old leaky non-environmentally controlled "Rubb" shelters): $87M
Source: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...SdDVTtpQDDU0B6 Pages 214-219
Flight Line Munitions Holding Area: $19M
Deployable Air Base System - Facilities, Equipment & Vehicles (DABS-FEV) Storage Complex (would free up an aircraft hangar and replaces 2 x old leaky non-environmentally controlled "Rubb" shelters): $87M
Source: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...SdDVTtpQDDU0B6 Pages 214-219
RAF Molesworth is safe as U turn for closure
i kind of gathered a while back RAF Molesworth is not going anywhere so todays news its official that its here to stay. This is coinciding with the 95th RS moving across to Fairford and the 'Hall's future is hanging in the balance.
https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2018...dgeshire-base/
Can anyone confirm any construction work is / has started at Spang to accomodate the 352nd, because I have heard sketchy stories
-Germans are not happy whatsoever about increase in movement from USAFE let alone night flying / low level flying by anything.
-Construction has not started and still in planning stages.
-Construction has started albeit very snails pace...
Likewise with the 100th supposedly moving across to Ram the issues so I hear
-Space on base (yes I know its x 3 of the 'Hall ) but still need dedicated areas to be constructed for AAR support...and they have already used extra land / knocked trees down for the building the new bigger regional medical facility as Landstuhl is old old.
-Again the locals will not be happy with increased flying
Cheers
https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2018...dgeshire-base/
Can anyone confirm any construction work is / has started at Spang to accomodate the 352nd, because I have heard sketchy stories
-Germans are not happy whatsoever about increase in movement from USAFE let alone night flying / low level flying by anything.
-Construction has not started and still in planning stages.
-Construction has started albeit very snails pace...
Likewise with the 100th supposedly moving across to Ram the issues so I hear
-Space on base (yes I know its x 3 of the 'Hall ) but still need dedicated areas to be constructed for AAR support...and they have already used extra land / knocked trees down for the building the new bigger regional medical facility as Landstuhl is old old.
-Again the locals will not be happy with increased flying
Cheers
Last edited by chopper2004; 24th Nov 2018 at 13:24.