RAF Fairford construction - complete

[davegard]

When do the drones arrive

The latest version of the ACP (Airspace Change Proposal ACP-2021-078) for the drones gives an implementation date of June 2024(about one year late).

The drones will normally operate between 20:00Z and 05:30Z and will climb out in a resticted danger area to the north west until above FL500 and civvy traffic. They will then be free to route east as required.

Expected to be 2-3 flights per week normally.
The document shows a photo of an RQ-4 as a typical drone.

Before the RQ-4 are retired in a few years we may start seeing the replacement being used/ Speculation

Let's hope for plenty of deployments to fill in the daylight hours.

Lots of time for plans to change still

[Nighthawke]

"Upgraded power" - either overlaying with bigger cables or putting additional ones on. Whichever it enables supplying increased load demand. Or, put simply, beefing up the network.

[thevulcan]

Work on the Munitions handling area should begin next year. Money has also been allocated to the deployable air base system which will be built over the old bomb dump. The Rapid Airfield damage repair facility is due to begin in 2026 for completion in 2027.

[minotaur]

The drones will normally operate between 20:00Z and 05:30Z and will climb out in a resticted danger area to the north west until above FL500 and civvy traffic. They will then be free to route east as required.

Has to be a reason they'll only be flown under the cover of darkness.

[Jaymer15]

Work on the Munitions handling area should begin next year. Money has also been allocated to the deployable air base system which will be built over the old bomb dump. The Rapid Airfield damage repair facility is due to begin in 2026 for completion in 2027.

At the risk of sounding stupid what is a Deployable Air Base System and what does a Rapid Airfield Damage Repair Facility consist of?

[thevulcan]

This link describes DABS fairly well. Essentially it is a series of buildings that contain commonly used equipment that RCH flts have to bring to areas of operation direct from CONUS. Having a DABS allows equipment to be employed more readily and much faster as the equipment will already be placed in areas of operation and will just need moving to the front line if and when a time comes where it is needed. I believe the US Army used to do this with field hospitals? The facility is to be built at fairford on the old bomb dump but construction will not start till the new Munitions areas are built over the next year.
https://www.defensenews.com/air/2018/08 ... perations/

The RADRF consists of two buildings one far behind the U2 hangar and the other on the base opposite the bomb dump where their are currently bomb trolley racks. The buildings will contain construction vehicles that are necessary for repairing damage to the airbase from weather or in the unlikely event bombs. Hopefully this makes some sense.

[Jaymer15]

Many thanks thevulcan. I had a feeling the RADRF would be something like that.

[markcp]

"Upgraded power" - either overlaying with bigger cables or putting additional ones on. Whichever it enables supplying increased load demand. Or, put simply, beefing up the network.

I was told that the power requirements for the new hangar is greater than the rest of the existing base, hence the new power supply.

[UKdragon]

The CAA consultation on UAV ops from Fairford referenced above is old now. They're on Step 3a currently, with some steps still to come. The decision is due on 16Feb24, with the "Target AIRAC" (whatever that is) in June 2024.

[Supra]

FYI & Mine ! Target AIRAC The CAA holds Gateway Assessment Meetings on a monthly basis and the annual schedule is published on the CAA website.
"AIRAC" would appear to mean 'Aeronautical Information Regulation and Control' in this context!

[POL]

AIRAC 2406 is live from 13 June 2024

[Doughnut]

The drones will normally operate between 20:00Z and 05:30Z and will climb out in a resticted danger area to the north west until above FL500 and civvy traffic. They will then be free to route east as required.

Has to be a reason they'll only be flown under the cover of darkness.

Probably less conflicting civil air traffic at that time of night, but does not go really quiet until after midnight. Remember Heathrow is closed pretty much midnight till 5.00am

[STN RAMP RAT]

I would guess it’s to maintain an air of secrecy around the project. If they don’t want you to photograph the hangars they are going to want to avoid any photographs of the UAVs and operating them in the hours of darkness will prevent photographs.

[jonnyweb]

Plus are the new hangars still not finished?

Possible power grid problem to them

There is a power upgrade currently underway along Horcott Road (I live just off it) to the base. The "upgraded power" (whatever the means) is being take from the substation on Cirencester Road, along Cirencester Road, turning right onto Horcott Road and all the way to the base.

Not sure but might be relevant.

It's relevant

[Northsky]

If i was aRussian Special Forces member i have the location to knock out the power for the base. Well done people.

[dragonhunter20]

If i was aRussian Special Forces member i have the location to knock out the power for the base. Well done people.

Without being “One of those” there is a considerable amount of information available on the internet that can be found. Including plans/drawings added to the planning etc. I understand what your saying though but a lot is open source

[Northsky]

The moderators should close this subject as its on an open forum . Lets not make potential enemies jobs easier.

[POL]

As dragonhunter says, this thread is completely irrelevant considering how much information is in the public domain, because it HAS to be in the public domain.

Foreign nations aren't going to look at Fighter Control, they're going to scout every planning application from every council in the country, because that's what they do.

Jeez.

[jetranger2015]

The moderators should close this subject as its on an open forum . Lets not make potential enemies jobs easier.

Information on here is all available elsewhere, so what has been discussed is not that important.
I'm sure satellites have gleaned a lot more information and you can still drive past and have a look for yourself if you are in the area, but for those of us who can't the discussion is interesting.
There would not be much of a forum left as a lot on here could make 'potential enemies jobs easier' if you read it that way.

Just MHO.

[Northsky]

Why did the moderators shut down new registrations for Fighter Control a while ago? Because a few had Russian E mail addresses. True or not ?