US looks to joint RC-135 base with the UK
 

A senior US Air Force officer has revealed that the service could set up a joint base with the United Kingdom Royal Air Force (RAF) for Boeing RC-135 Rivet Joint electronic and signal intelligence aircraft operations after the closure of the USAF's Mildenhall air base in 2022.

US looks to joint RC-135 base with the UK | IHS Jane's 360

RAF Fairford being the obvious choice with long runway and an uncrowded base, unlike Lakenheath that will be rammed when up to speed with F35/F15 squadrons

I hope the new (Trump) administration keeps the Boeing RC-135 Rivet Joint electronic and signal intelligence aircraft operations at Mildenhall and scraps the 2022 closure date.

What a pity that the RAF cannot support that need with its rented boom-less Voyagers...


...yet?

why the assumption that it would be a US flagged base?

no one would, i assume, think that either the RAF or USAF has the money or inclination to reactivate a mothballed base and build significant infrastructure there for just a handful of aircraft to operate from - when the RAF RC-135 fleet is at full chat there'll still often only be one in the UK, how many USAF RC-135's are usually sat on the ramp at Mildenhall?

if such a thing happens i'd put good money on the US put its visiting RC's at Waddington...

Waddington isn't the TARDIS that many seem to think it is - how many more types can you fit in there? And remember it's not just the actual jets you'd need to consider; Eng, Logs, accommodation etc all need to be factored in.

And don't just think USAF RC-135s. When you consider they also operate 135 variants such as the OC-135 and the E4 out of Mildenhall, not to mention AAR then it starts to make sense to consider a centralised 135 facility for all types.

Put them in at LM with the P-8s?

Tornado should be gone by then.

The runway at Waddington is only 67 metres less in length than Mildenhall, if it makes a difference, then surely it could be extended a tad, especially if the A15 divert goes ahead.

Scampton has a lot of real estate, and is not too far from the rest of the ISTAR assets at Wado......

Oh, RAFAT ?

Hat, coat , door.....

From the BINA:

Mildenhall:

RW11 TORA/LDA 9240ft TODA/ASDA 10,240ft
RW29 TORA/LDA 9240ft TODA/ASDA 10,240ft

Waddington:

RW02 TORA/ASDA/LDA 9000ft TODA 9164ft
RW20 TORA/ASDA/LDA 9000ft TODA 9000ft

That must be a very old BINA. Following the recent rebuild I believe the runway has actually "shrunk".

Nah just me showing my age.

Lakenheath. Build a hangar if needed. Easy

Hasn't Finningley got some soon to be free hangar space?

UK MOD retain Mildenhall on handover. Close Waddington :)

Not really a starter. They looked at moving into Woodbridge/Bentwaters as a clutch airfield when the USAF moved out; the cost of replacing everything they ripped out and took home, retiring the entire base electrical system with 230V, changing the roads etc etc ran into hundreds of £M, just wasn't economic.

ORAC - but the Army moved in and found it just fine !! :}

Arc

Roadster, They can't close Waddington unless they've just resurfaced the runway.....oh....

But the pongos just run on hexiblocks, beer and chips. Electricity is a luxury :)

Declared distances as currently published show that Mildenhall has stopway on both ends, giving it about 400m advantage in ASDA over Waddington.

EGXW
02 TORA/ASDA 8,864ft/2,702m, TODA 9,324ft/2,841m, LDA 8,996ft/2,742m
20 TORA/ASDA/LDA 8,999ft/2,743m, TODA 9,230ft/2,813m

EGUN
11/29 TORA/TODA/LDA 9,202ft/2,805m, ASDA 10,203ft/3,110m

Assuming this article is correct and Mildenhall is indeed closing, I don't see any other solution apart from relocating both forces Rivet Joints to either Fairford or Lakenheath. Lakenheath has the close proximity for airmen and support crew but will be full of fighter jets and does not have a runway of any more length than Waddington now. Fairford on the other hand does have runway suitability but infrastructure upgrades will be necessary for the additional 400 or so airmen and women.

Which location would you decide upon?

In the late sixties the RAF 'woke up' Fairford to accommodate 30 and 47 with their new C130K a/c. We also had the pleasure of a Concorde prototype flying out of the base. IMHO no reason why it cannot be woken up again.

Why not Ramstein? Mildenhall's core functions are going to be there anyway.

And if 51 Sqn move over to Germany, that frees up real estate for Poseidon at Waddington.

Arclite01,
And now they are moving out and closing it down.

stewyb,
Why your assumption that the 2 fleets should be colocated?
Waddungton has a new hq building and substantially rebuilt hangar as well as new ramp space all specifically built for 51Squadron.

pr00ne,
I'm only going on the information provided from this article and elsewhere in the media that RAF/USAF might co-locate and Waddington is not a preferred option due to runway length. I do however agree that infrastructure has been improved there specifically for Rivet Joint and other ISTAR equipment so I guess only time will tell!

FF is not actually asleep - it's dozing. It's on "Turn Key" status in support of B2, B52 and other activities. Be difficult to absorb two nations together with each requiring primacy and where would non-ac supporting staff and facilities come from? That would need additional personnel and funding.

Off to Lossie' then?

What would Trump do......

Story is out of date, Lakenheath has been selected as OL for USAF RJs.