RAF Mildenhall to close. Lakenheath to get F-35 by 2020

[filmman]

No, actually the opposite. The Rand Corporation is an "independent" think tank that is paid by customers to produce analytical reports. As frequently happens the Hill (Congress and Senate) frequently disagrees with USAF policy. In this case there are numerous Homeland bases that the the USAF would like to shut but the Hill wants to keep open; the Federal spend benefits their constituents/votes. The USAF wants to spend the savings on planes. Being political realists the USAF "agreed" to shut overseas bases to facilitate shutting surplus Homeland bases, as RAND magically suggested. Unfortunately, the long UK base closure list were not really open, Heyford (Volvo car park), etc,. So they had to include an operational base, hence Mildenhall. Then things got complicated as USAF Europe cocould not/did not want to relocate all the units which it actually needed; moving costs exceeded cost savings because it involved building costs and possibly rent. The UK does not charge rent, pays the Community Charge and half of building costs. Europe is not so generous.
Shame our Tankers had their booms deleted and Waddington is too short for fully fuelled Rivet jointis; is MOD fit for purpose.
Filmman

[andrewn]

If the EIC review had been held as little as 6 months later than it was then Mildenhall would not be closing. But the decision was made, and UK government will have been only too quick to accept the generous offer of free land for building the thousands more commuter homes that Cambridge growth requires. That, together with the hangover from Trump's campaign of America First and the anti-Nato rhetoric, means there's probably no way back for Mildenhall.

On the plus side I'm finding all this speculation about Fairford becoming a "mini Mildenhall" very interesting - we live in hope

[page_verify]

Good discussion points about US politics, thank you. To add to the debate, I agree with the USAF leadership mention that the decision to close Mildenhall would never have been reversed following the recent changes in European politics. It’s been at “at-risk” base for a while as it’s a small airfield which doesn’t offer any unique or combat capabilities. Hence, Fairford is actually likely to become a “big-Mildenhall”, it’s airfield is twice the size, it has some rare physical airfield properties as well as a bulk munitions supply chain.

[filmman]

Ah, but there is the gravel/sand deposits as can be seen excavated round the Base/area. Where I live is much the same. We have deep large pockets of gravel, often 1 million tons +, requiring deep holes as well as sand. No doubt if Fairford ever shut it would be quickly excavated. With regard to Cambridge housing, at some point Marshalls will build houses on their airfield as the profit becomes irresistible. That's life. I hope MOD have protected the farmland round Fairford otherwise it's munition safety zone will become compromised.
Film man

[Unknown74]

Just wondered wether they had considered Ospreys and Hercs - Special Ops, to Lakenheath? Once Mildenhall closed? - Is there room?

[MRTT]

Very much doubt it, with the F-35s due to arrive in the not too distant future.

[RJ79]

I think with the extra squadron of F-35's and the additional transiting traffic (I assume they will get a fair bit of what Mildenhall had in Tankers and Airlifters) it will be close to bursting. There was a piece in the local paper a while back saying that it will be close to a 24/7 base when Mildenhall does eventually close up.

[tm74sqn]

Just wondered wether they had considered Ospreys and Hercs - Special Ops, to Lakenheath? Once Mildenhall closed? - Is there room?

They are to be based in Germany.

[Sparkvark]

"They are to be based in Germany."

Not if the Germans have anything to say about it, Locals are defenitely not happy with the amount of extra movements.......

[paddyboy]

Apparently, they are even less happy about the low flying

[baz1]

and I don't think Trump likes the Germans!

[Nighthawke]

The feeling's probably mutual

[welshandy]

BBC news item on the incident that has happen today(reported elsewhere on here) has the following( Apologies if mentioned before). "The US Air Force said in September it was delaying plans to relocate operations to a base in Germany until 2024."

[skysearcher]

The RQS is getting ready to leave LK soon huh ... https://www.dvidshub.net/image/4122595/ ... ver-aviano

[andrewn]

Very little news on MH closure recently. Does anyone have any updates?

[Featherstone82]

Does anyone know if the RC-135’s are still moving to Fairford?

[Spitfire88]

Does anyone know if the RC-135’s are still moving to Fairford?

They sure are.

[Spitfire88]

Very little news on MH closure recently. Does anyone have any updates?

Still happening but delayed untill 2024

[filmman]

Has anyone heard if Mildenhall's closure is later than 2024/or not at all; I increasingly doubt closure. The Germans don't like noisy Ospreys, they might prefer to delay tankers until the KC 135 replacement and Trump was not their flavor of the month even before the "Trade War". The German Government, a stitched up group of disparate parties, appears to be disintegrating making agreement less likely. Meanwhile there is still the problem of RC135/Lakenheath arrester cables or the cost of upgrading Fairford might well exceed the refurbishment of Mildenhall; their also running out of bases.
Coincidently Fairford's DOD base manager is being replaced with a Lt Colonel and Trump today announced a military space force. Remember the NASA Space Shuttle was partly funded by DOD, flew military payloads and Fairford was a shuttle diversion runway.
Filmman

[Dan423]

Last briefing I attended was told that 2024 is still the estimated date for moving out of Mildenhall.