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

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HighFlyer21
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Re: RAF Mildenhall to close. Lakenheath to get F-35 by 2020

Post by HighFlyer21 » Fri Sep 18, 2020 8:47 pm

Agent K wrote:
Fri Sep 18, 2020 7:19 pm
HighFlyer21 wrote:
Fri Sep 18, 2020 5:39 pm
Obviously we haven’t invested in infrastructure in Mildenhall in a number of years in anticipation of a move to Spangdahlem, but we recognize the change in policy and we’re supportive of that,” Slife said during a press conference as part of AFA’s virtual Air, Space & Cyber Conference. “Obviously we’ve worked out a lot of the kinks that come along with training in a new area and that kind of stuff in the U.K. We’ve been there a long time, and we’ve got a great training environment in the U.K., we’ve got good access to particularly the high north and some of the areas that are increasing in relevance for us.
Wonder if that if referencing Prestwick?
I read that as a reference to (N) Yorkshire and the Lakes and surrounding areas where they train most days/nights, not sure Prestwick has any special role to play?
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Reach1985
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Re: RAF Mildenhall to close. Lakenheath to get F-35 by 2020

Post by Reach1985 » Fri Sep 18, 2020 8:57 pm

I read this in a geopolitical context: ‘high north’ as Norway & Scandinavia and access to the arctic which is increasingly becoming debated territory & I read the line ‘some of the areas of increasing relevance to us’ as Eastern Europe / Ukraine etc. I think I’m right in thinking that there has been a recent deployment to Norway & regular flights to Eastern Europe as well.

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

Post by Agent K » Mon Sep 21, 2020 7:08 am

Reach1985 wrote:
Fri Sep 18, 2020 8:57 pm
I read this in a geopolitical context: ‘high north’ as Norway & Scandinavia and access to the arctic which is increasingly becoming debated territory & I read the line ‘some of the areas of increasing relevance to us’ as Eastern Europe / Ukraine etc. I think I’m right in thinking that there has been a recent deployment to Norway & regular flights to Eastern Europe as well.
Rereading it, yes, I think this does refer to Norway/Scandinavia and beyond as you propose...… the threat level is still low at Prestwick so not required……..

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

Post by Reach1985 » Mon Sep 21, 2020 8:45 am

Agent K wrote:
Mon Sep 21, 2020 7:08 am
Reach1985 wrote:
Fri Sep 18, 2020 8:57 pm
I read this in a geopolitical context: ‘high north’ as Norway & Scandinavia and access to the arctic which is increasingly becoming debated territory & I read the line ‘some of the areas of increasing relevance to us’ as Eastern Europe / Ukraine etc. I think I’m right in thinking that there has been a recent deployment to Norway & regular flights to Eastern Europe as well.
Rereading it, yes, I think this does refer to Norway/Scandinavia and beyond as you propose...… the threat level is still low at Prestwick so not required……..
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Re: RAF Mildenhall to close. Lakenheath to get F-35 by 2020

Post by page_verify » Sat Oct 31, 2020 11:28 am

Whether the RC-135s move from Mildenhall to Fairford is still be to determined in an upcoming review - 30th Oct 2020.
https://www.facebook.com/12904610711536 ... 964209805/

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

Post by johnwayne » Sat Oct 31, 2020 12:00 pm

page_verify wrote:
Sat Oct 31, 2020 11:28 am
Whether the RC-135s move from Mildenhall to Fairford is still be to determined in an upcoming review - 30th Oct 2020.
https://www.facebook.com/12904610711536 ... 964209805/
To save anyone ploughing through the whole 36 minutes of this 501st CSW Q&A PR video the relevant section is roughly minute 26 to 28 . In a nutshell it confirms full speed ahead on some (non RC135 related) Fairford infrastructure projects already publicised but as PV says the RC move is subject to further review . However I'd say the 'temperature of the water'' in the response to the RC moving question could be characterised as somewhat 'lukewarm' :unsure:

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

Post by page_verify » Sat Oct 31, 2020 4:45 pm

I think the Colonel probably gave a genuine answer, which is probably close to the truth. Americans are often very yes/no and by the book. Only a few weeks ago a USAF commander in the UK was saying "there's been no announcement so they're still moving to Fairford because I've got nothing to say they're not", rather than speculating with a "well it's looking less likely isn't it?" type of reply. The Colonel in that video could've said "that's not for me to say, I've not been given any updates" etc.

But, for whatever reason, that EUCOM announcement didn't say "we're keeping Mildenhall open so nothing's going to move", it just said the tankers and SOW are staying put. I've heard rumours why but that's for another day.

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

Post by thevulcan » Sun Nov 01, 2020 5:41 pm

Interesting thanks for posting certainly sounding positive for both bases. With Lakenheath getting two F-35 squadrons along with it's three F-15 squadrons that wouldn't leave a lot of room for deployments of fighter units to lakenheath. Wonder if that is why Fairford is to become a DAB (Deployable Air Base) so that it can house and look after fighter deployments that would have once gone through lakenheath.
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Re: RAF Mildenhall to close. Lakenheath to get F-35 by 2020

Post by reaperops » Sun Nov 01, 2020 7:07 pm

Fairford has been identifed as a location to store DABs. Here's a couple of links describing its role and how it has already been tested within USAFE.

https://www.defensenews.com/air/2018/08 ... perations/

https://www.defensenews.com/air/2018/08 ... ture-wars/
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Re: RAF Mildenhall to close. Lakenheath to get F-35 by 2020

Post by Alf » Sun Nov 01, 2020 7:19 pm

thevulcan wrote:
Sun Nov 01, 2020 5:41 pm
Interesting thanks for posting certainly sounding positive for both bases. With Lakenheath getting two F-35 squadrons along with it's three F-15 squadrons that wouldn't leave a lot of room for deployments of fighter units to lakenheath. Wonder if that is why Fairford is to become a DAB (Deployable Air Base) so that it can house and look after fighter deployments that would have once gone through lakenheath.
Thought Lakenheath is to lose the F-15C squadron when the F-35 arrives.. so back to 4 squadrons like in the F-111 days..

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

Post by Finty » Sun Nov 01, 2020 10:41 pm

That’s right, the 495th will be reactivated so two squadrons each of F15Es and F35As.
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Re: RAF Mildenhall to close. Lakenheath to get F-35 by 2020

Post by page_verify » Mon Nov 02, 2020 8:38 am

thevulcan wrote:
Sun Nov 01, 2020 5:41 pm
Wonder if that is why Fairford is to become a DAB (Deployable Air Base) so that it can house and look after fighter deployments that would have once gone through lakenheath.
The deployable air base system is "a collection of shelters, vehicles, construction equipment and other gear that can be pre-positioned around the globe and moved to any place the Air Force needs to stand up air operations."
i.e. it'll get sent from Fairford to somewhere else in times of need.

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

Post by XWP29 » Mon Nov 02, 2020 11:05 pm

Alf wrote:
Sun Nov 01, 2020 7:19 pm
thevulcan wrote:
Sun Nov 01, 2020 5:41 pm
Interesting thanks for posting certainly sounding positive for both bases. With Lakenheath getting two F-35 squadrons along with it's three F-15 squadrons that wouldn't leave a lot of room for deployments of fighter units to lakenheath. Wonder if that is why Fairford is to become a DAB (Deployable Air Base) so that it can house and look after fighter deployments that would have once gone through lakenheath.
Thought Lakenheath is to lose the F-15C squadron when the F-35 arrives.. so back to 4 squadrons like in the F-111 days..
On at least two occasions the Stars and Stripes have reported that the 493rd will be around, after the 495th Squadron arrives.

https://www.stripes.com/news/thundervar ... h-1.645311

“There will be two squadrons of F35A’s, the 495th will be the first”

So from this it’s clear the F15C will not leave when the first Squadron of F35’s arrives next autumn.

The 493rd are Raytheon Trophy winners again for the top Fighter Squadron in the USAF 2020, this and potential upgrades to the F15C means it will be around a while longer yet👍 Better still will they convert to F35A’s and provide that other, yet to be defined Squadron? After all it’s a single seater fighter just like the ‘C’

Time will tell
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Alf
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Re: RAF Mildenhall to close. Lakenheath to get F-35 by 2020

Post by Alf » Wed Nov 04, 2020 3:24 pm

XWP29 wrote:
Mon Nov 02, 2020 11:05 pm
Alf wrote:
Sun Nov 01, 2020 7:19 pm
thevulcan wrote:
Sun Nov 01, 2020 5:41 pm
Interesting thanks for posting certainly sounding positive for both bases. With Lakenheath getting two F-35 squadrons along with it's three F-15 squadrons that wouldn't leave a lot of room for deployments of fighter units to lakenheath. Wonder if that is why Fairford is to become a DAB (Deployable Air Base) so that it can house and look after fighter deployments that would have once gone through lakenheath.
Thought Lakenheath is to lose the F-15C squadron when the F-35 arrives.. so back to 4 squadrons like in the F-111 days..
On at least two occasions the Stars and Stripes have reported that the 493rd will be around, after the 495th Squadron arrives.

https://www.stripes.com/news/thundervar ... h-1.645311

“There will be two squadrons of F35A’s, the 495th will be the first”

So from this it’s clear the F15C will not leave when the first Squadron of F35’s arrives next autumn.

The 493rd are Raytheon Trophy winners again for the top Fighter Squadron in the USAF 2020, this and potential upgrades to the F15C means it will be around a while longer yet👍 Better still will they convert to F35A’s and provide that other, yet to be defined Squadron? After all it’s a single seater fighter just like the ‘C’

Time will tell
Assume the 495th being the first of the F-35A squadrons, the 493rd will become the second, at which point the F-15C will go as their F-35A are delivered.. so never more than 4 squadrons at LN.

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XWP29
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Re: RAF Mildenhall to close. Lakenheath to get F-35 by 2020

Post by XWP29 » Wed Nov 04, 2020 5:26 pm

Alf wrote:
Wed Nov 04, 2020 3:24 pm
XWP29 wrote:
Mon Nov 02, 2020 11:05 pm
Alf wrote:
Sun Nov 01, 2020 7:19 pm


Thought Lakenheath is to lose the F-15C squadron when the F-35 arrives.. so back to 4 squadrons like in the F-111 days..
On at least two occasions the Stars and Stripes have reported that the 493rd will be around, after the 495th Squadron arrives.

https://www.stripes.com/news/thundervar ... h-1.645311

“There will be two squadrons of F35A’s, the 495th will be the first”

So from this it’s clear the F15C will not leave when the first Squadron of F35’s arrives next autumn.

The 493rd are Raytheon Trophy winners again for the top Fighter Squadron in the USAF 2020, this and potential upgrades to the F15C means it will be around a while longer yet👍 Better still will they convert to F35A’s and provide that other, yet to be defined Squadron? After all it’s a single seater fighter just like the ‘C’

Time will tell
Assume the 495th being the first of the F-35A squadrons, the 493rd will become the second, at which point the F-15C will go as their F-35A are delivered.. so never more than 4 squadrons at LN.

There is no assumption, it’s clear the first will be the 495th, the second squadron is not yet known, nor is the timing.

There is no official word that there will or will not be 4 or more based at one time. Is there? If not that is speculation at this time.
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Re: RAF Mildenhall to close. Lakenheath to get F-35 by 2020

Post by STN RAMP RAT » Sat Nov 07, 2020 10:10 pm

I wonder what effect the Biden Presidency will have on the decision to relocate the F16's away from Spangdahlem and therefore the moves from Mildenhall to Germany. Time will tell if the move of the F16's to Aviano was a USAF idea or a Trump idea.

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

Post by reaperops » Sat Nov 07, 2020 11:07 pm

STN RAMP RAT wrote:
Sat Nov 07, 2020 10:10 pm
I wonder what effect the Biden Presidency will have on the decision to relocate the F16's away from Spangdahlem and therefore the moves from Mildenhall to Germany. Time will tell if the move of the F16's to Aviano was a USAF idea or a Trump idea.
Probably a 4 year extension of this thread.......
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Re: RAF Mildenhall to close. Lakenheath to get F-35 by 2020

Post by page_verify » Sun Nov 08, 2020 7:49 am

STN RAMP RAT wrote:
Sat Nov 07, 2020 10:10 pm
I wonder what effect the Biden Presidency will have on the decision to relocate the F16's away from Spangdahlem and therefore the moves from Mildenhall to Germany. Time will tell if the move of the F16's to Aviano was a USAF idea or a Trump idea.
You're having a giraffe? It'll be changes to the Senate and House of Representatives that might cause changes to European defence policy. Trump thought he could meddle in the detail but the courts and ultimately the voters showed the president actually has little influence in little details.

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

Post by Kurnass » Sun Nov 08, 2020 10:14 am

It’s not that the president decides which units might relocate or not. But if the president decides European friendships should be restored, the Pentagon might decide to changes in the decision on relocating units.

So again its all about “wait and see what happens, or doesn’t happen after all”.

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

Post by slogen51 » Sun Nov 08, 2020 3:38 pm

I have heard from down Folly Rd that Mildenhall might close or it might not.

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