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

[MRTT]

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mod- ... r-us-f-35s

F-35s now arriving in 2021, it seems.

[Lossie]

Some preparations have been taking place at Spangdahlem:
https://www.usafe.af.mil/News/Article-D ... c-testing/

[Coasties]

RIAT 2025?

Sorry, no, you've got to give me more! not sure if this is a statement, a question, a statement of knowing secret facts?

I think the RAFCTE which runs RIAT has an agreement until 2023 or 2024 with the USAF for the airshow to continue. We have seen the RAF use the excuse (that word chosed deliberately over "reason") to scrap the Waddington show so will the USAF/MOD decide they can't hold the show at an active base? I know U-2s use it a bit as do bombers on TDY but this is different especially as there will be work going on on the runway and new buildings being constructed on the east side of the road.

Going off thread but there is no real alternative to Fairford for RIAT.

I’m sure many people don’t realise is that it’s not just the weekend of the show where any USAF operations can be disrupted but in fact six weeks. RIAT take control of the South side of the airfield four weeks before the show to allow for the build of all the stands and chalets, another two weeks after the show for the tear down. This must be a factor in any future USAF planning to allow the show to continue, not only from an operational point of view but also the security of assets that will be based once the 95 RS have taken up residence.

[Reach1985]

Some preparations have been taking place at Spangdahlem:
https://www.usafe.af.mil/News/Article-D ... c-testing/

Does anyone know if much has happened since 2016 on this front? It’s gone pretty quiet otherwise.

I always imagined that the 100th move to RS would coincide with the retirement of KC-135 ops but is that at all likely and has anything been put in place at RS for the move of 100th that anyone knows about?

[Agent K]

RIAT 2025?

Sorry, no, you've got to give me more! not sure if this is a statement, a question, a statement of knowing secret facts?

I think the RAFCTE which runs RIAT has an agreement until 2023 or 2024 with the USAF for the airshow to continue. We have seen the RAF use the excuse (that word chosed deliberately over "reason") to scrap the Waddington show so will the USAF/MOD decide they can't hold the show at an active base? I know U-2s use it a bit as do bombers on TDY but this is different especially as there will be work going on on the runway and new buildings being constructed on the east side of the road.

Going off thread but there is no real alternative to Fairford for RIAT.

Sorry, with you now, wasn’t aware of that, mmmmmm....

[plmc135]

Article on local BBC News that MoD is to spend £160m on facilities at Lakenheath for future based F-35A's. Why cannot Frump pay for it

[reach1]

They do comes out of the us defence budget via the M.O.D.who deal with contracting work, The base is M.o.d.land leased to the U.S.

[Agent K]

Article on local BBC News that MoD is to spend £160m on facilities at Lakenheath for future based F-35A's. Why cannot Frump pay for it

You obviously don’t understand how these things work, it’s MoD land leased to the US and all contracts and work are done via the MoD, through which the DoD is recharged.

[Snoop 95]

Here's a link to the article in the EADT:
https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/raf-lakenhe ... -1-5787802

[plmc135]

Article on local BBC News that MoD is to spend £160m on facilities at Lakenheath for future based F-35A's. Why cannot Frump pay for it

You obviously don’t understand how these things work, it’s MoD land leased to the US and all contracts and work are done via the MoD, through which the DoD is recharged.

Fortunately I do understand but the BBC article made no reference to it being recharged to DoD. Your grammar is faulty should read "work is done".

[Amp]

Actually the grammar is fine.

[filmman]

I believe that we pay 50% and the USA 50% of infrastructure costs on US bases in the UK which are leased. Nominally they are RAF stations and have a ranking RAF officer. However, we do benefit from the presence of our cousins and it's a godd deal.
Filmman

[skidrow]

Sorry but this is not correct. Money for all infrastructure projects is provided by the US Gov't direct to DIO who then manage the project. If the US Gov't don't cough up the money then it doesn't happen, so not reimbursed or 50/50.

[Snoop 95]

Exciting news on BBC TV local this morning. A Colonel in the USAF (didn't catch his location) said that the DoD is re-considering base closures in the UK. That said, the ones they specifically mentioned were Alconbury and Molesworth, not Mildenhall.

[filmman]

I stand corrected, any idea when the 50% split ended. A long time ago members from the "Hill" were being briefed at HQ Mildenhall and they were told about the UK's 50% and other friendly Measures. They had previously been in West Germany, they were pleasantly surprisedat; a very censored take on their comments.
Filmman

[skidrow]

Not heard of the 50% split so it must have been prior to 1987. It's always been full US funding since then.

[Snoop 95]

Exciting news on BBC TV local this morning. A Colonel in the USAF (didn't catch his location) said that the DoD is re-considering base closures in the UK. That said, the ones they specifically mentioned were Alconbury and Molesworth, not Mildenhall.

Here it is in a press clip:
https://www.forces.net/news/raf-mildenh ... considered

[Lossie]

That press report is from 2017 - they did look again and decided still to close Mildenhall. The local TV news the other day report I saw only mentioned Alconbury and Molesworth.

[Coasties]

The original plan was to close Molesworth/Alconbury and consolidate their functions at Croughton, this has since been reviewed and for the time being both Molesworth and Alconbury will continue to operate. Long term I suspect that they will consolidate at a location TBA.

[romeo bravo]

Don't know what be done at Alconbury that cant be done elsewhere. Alconbury is under housing and iso-containers