Prestwick to host Voyager fleet (Brize Runway works)
Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2025 2:31 pm
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/glasgow ... ing-fleet/
The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that Glasgow Prestwick Airport will temporarily host the RAF’s Voyager A330 refuelling fleet during major resurfacing works at RAF Brize Norton.
The move is part of Project MACE, a bolthole operation designed to maintain the UK’s air-to-air refuelling capability during a planned overhaul of Brize Norton’s Aerodrome Operating Surfaces.
According to a government transparency notice published on 12 June, the contract—valued at £1.2 million including VAT—will be directly awarded to Glasgow Prestwick Airport due to the site’s unique suitability. The upgrades at the airport will include the installation of concrete jacking pads, required for safe and compliant aircraft maintenance.
The Ministry of Defence stated: “Air Commercial, part of the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD), intends to award a contract to Glasgow Prestwick Airport (GPA) for the provision of services. The estimated value of the contract is £750,000 with a proposed term of 36 weeks. This Direct Award is related to a larger programme of work, referred to as MACE.”
The Voyager A330 is the RAF’s sole air-to-air refuelling tanker and also supports strategic air transport. The MOD warns that without these temporary facilities, “the Voyager fleet will be unavailable to support the Fast Jet fleet which critically defend UK airspace.”
The notice highlights that Prestwick is the only viable option due to technical and operational constraints:
“Only one airport, Glasgow Prestwick Airport, can meet all of the MOD’s technical requirements. GPA is the only airport that could take 7 Voyager aircraft. All other airfields lack the necessary secure communications… others would require full runway reconstruction, again at significant time of several years.”
The notice continues:
“Without the pads, the seven aircraft would quickly become unworthy of flight, jeopardising Defence outputs.”
In addition, the MOD stresses the importance of keeping the fleet together rather than dispersing it across multiple airfields:
“Dispersing the fleet across a number of sites would stretch these already scarce resources and would ultimately lead to many of the aircraft becoming unworthy of flight.”
Direct award of the contract is justified under the Procurement Act 2023 for both technical and defence reasons. The MOD concludes:
“Direct Award to GPA is necessary… to enhance or maintain the operational capability, effectiveness, readiness for action, safety or security of the armed forces.”
Work at Prestwick is expected to begin in July 2025 and last for 11 months, in preparation for the Voyager fleet’s arrival during the summer of 2026.
The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that Glasgow Prestwick Airport will temporarily host the RAF’s Voyager A330 refuelling fleet during major resurfacing works at RAF Brize Norton.
The move is part of Project MACE, a bolthole operation designed to maintain the UK’s air-to-air refuelling capability during a planned overhaul of Brize Norton’s Aerodrome Operating Surfaces.
According to a government transparency notice published on 12 June, the contract—valued at £1.2 million including VAT—will be directly awarded to Glasgow Prestwick Airport due to the site’s unique suitability. The upgrades at the airport will include the installation of concrete jacking pads, required for safe and compliant aircraft maintenance.
The Ministry of Defence stated: “Air Commercial, part of the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD), intends to award a contract to Glasgow Prestwick Airport (GPA) for the provision of services. The estimated value of the contract is £750,000 with a proposed term of 36 weeks. This Direct Award is related to a larger programme of work, referred to as MACE.”
The Voyager A330 is the RAF’s sole air-to-air refuelling tanker and also supports strategic air transport. The MOD warns that without these temporary facilities, “the Voyager fleet will be unavailable to support the Fast Jet fleet which critically defend UK airspace.”
The notice highlights that Prestwick is the only viable option due to technical and operational constraints:
“Only one airport, Glasgow Prestwick Airport, can meet all of the MOD’s technical requirements. GPA is the only airport that could take 7 Voyager aircraft. All other airfields lack the necessary secure communications… others would require full runway reconstruction, again at significant time of several years.”
The notice continues:
“Without the pads, the seven aircraft would quickly become unworthy of flight, jeopardising Defence outputs.”
In addition, the MOD stresses the importance of keeping the fleet together rather than dispersing it across multiple airfields:
“Dispersing the fleet across a number of sites would stretch these already scarce resources and would ultimately lead to many of the aircraft becoming unworthy of flight.”
Direct award of the contract is justified under the Procurement Act 2023 for both technical and defence reasons. The MOD concludes:
“Direct Award to GPA is necessary… to enhance or maintain the operational capability, effectiveness, readiness for action, safety or security of the armed forces.”
Work at Prestwick is expected to begin in July 2025 and last for 11 months, in preparation for the Voyager fleet’s arrival during the summer of 2026.
