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?

I have to agree with you.... I could never use the words, Culdrose and Quick reaction in the same sentence.

vvha

I think the Sqn with the same number as your posts might take exception to that one.

:cool:

TOG

T O'G - the killer with that one is that as soon as he replies, it will be a different squadron :)

Not very relevant to modern operations though as they will hardly be carrying out the task themselves.

More info here.

Perhaps a new NAS would be more appropriate :uhoh::ouch:

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:rolleyes:

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? :confused:

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.

The new wonder jet does not need 6000 of runway, it could safely operate with much less. Culdrose will do just fine.

er... yeah, but that's slightly missing the point, isn't it?!:)

Waiting for it....

"MOD announces multi-billion pound runway extension and building project at Cornish Navy airfield for RAF jets" :E

No, I'm sure common sense will prevail here.












Then they'll re-open Chivenor.

Isnt the main threat axis on the Circle Line at the moment ?

Well, in that case, Q to Northolt:eek:

over 5500' of pavement, and a tower thats almost H24 anyways, why not....:}


.... 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!:mad:

Screw runway extensions lets maintain the surfaces we already have first:ugh:

Sorry, the soapbox has been put away

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

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.