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

[tornado17]

Here's an update on "The Hall" (as we called it long ago during my spotting days!).
At the Air & Space Power Conference in London today, I asked USAFE commander General Harrigan what the latest closure date was.
His reply: 2027

Regards from Chris Pocock
author, DRAGON LADY TODAY
www.dragonladytoday.com
author, 50 YEARS OF THE U-2
www.dragonladyhistory.com

On Friday (19th) evening on BBC Local News programme for Gloucestershire while reporting on Friday's RIAT, they spoke to, I believe, the Base Commander who said that the Rivet Joint move from Mildenhall to Fairford is happening. He didn't mention the date but stated that $962 million was being spend on the infrastructure to support the Rivet Joints and there would be an increase of just under 1000 military personnel moving to the base. There would also around 1200 family members moving there too which will bring an economic boost to Fairford town and the local area.

[andrewn]

Sheesh, a billion USD to support 3 jets max. Plus all the money going into Spang and RS... I wonder whether anybody has shared the business case for this with Trump yet?

Edit: Actually Tornado, that cant be right. You sure he didn't say 96.2 million?

[tornado17]

Sheesh, a billion USD to support 3 jets max. Plus all the money going into Spang and RS... I wonder whether anybody has shared the business case for this with Trump yet?

Edit: Actually Tornado, that cant be right. You sure he didn't say 96.2 million?

It may have been, I can't remember, my memory's not what it use to be!! I've triedto find the news report but without success. I'll try and find it when I get home after RIAT.

[Spitfire88]

Budget is up to about 200 million ( plus extra for the DABS and new bomb dumps etc ) at last count, press releases to us here in fairford state that it’s now up to 3500 extra people , including personal and family

[filmman]

Is it true that Fairford's funds for Rivet Joint related work has been reallocated to their home base,Offort, to repair recent base damage?
Filmman

[Reach1985]

Is it true that Fairford's funds for Rivet Joint related work has been reallocated to their home base,Offort, to repair recent base damage?
Filmman

I heard this as well. Damage to Tyndall AFB too.

[Spitfire88]

There’s a lot of work going on at fairford at the moment that’s all related to the up coming move, there’s also a significant usaf presence there now, I was talking to a usaf chap posted to fairford today as he said it’s all moving forward at quite a pace, so I don’t think fairfords budget has changed but I will try to get clarification from a friend who works on base and deals with the budgets.

[STN RAMP RAT]

it seems some of the money allocated to the RC135 facilities at Fairford has been reallocated to Trumps "wall"

https://assets.documentcloud.org/docume ... errals.pdf

[welshandy]

it seems some of the money allocated to the RC135 facilities at Fairford has been reallocated to Trumps "wall"

https://assets.documentcloud.org/docume ... errals.pdf

Interesting read. I see Spangdahlem AB have projects for F/A-22 Low Observable/Composite Repair Facility & Upgrading Hardened Aircraft Shelters for F/A-22.

[andrewn]

it seems some of the money allocated to the RC135 facilities at Fairford has been reallocated to Trumps "wall"

https://assets.documentcloud.org/docume ... errals.pdf

So apologies for being slow on the uptake, but is that a list of works that has been deferred or cancelled?

[andrewn]

it seems some of the money allocated to the RC135 facilities at Fairford has been reallocated to Trumps "wall"

https://assets.documentcloud.org/docume ... errals.pdf

So apologies for being slow on the uptake, but is that a list of works that has been deferred or cancelled?

That's good I can answer my own question, courtesy of the BBC - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-49574441

So, potentially, the required Rivet Joint infrastructure at Fairford may now never get funded. Does that tell us something about the future for Mildenhall I wonder?

[wezgulf3]

it seems some of the money allocated to the RC135 facilities at Fairford has been reallocated to Trumps "wall"

https://assets.documentcloud.org/docume ... errals.pdf

So apologies for being slow on the uptake, but is that a list of works that has been deferred or cancelled?

That's good I can answer my own question, courtesy of the BBC - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-49574441

So, potentially, the required Rivet Joint infrastructure at Fairford may now never get funded. Does that tell us something about the future for Mildenhall I wonder?

Or potentially it could speed up the closure of Mildenhall?

Wes...

[Spitfire88]

Congress has said it will cover the 3 billion dollars being taken from the defence construction budget.

[filmman]

Having looked at some of the Fairford work and posted police notices, it's past anti-bomber protest history, last years rumored bomber deployment, Russian tactical nuclear weapon usage doctrine change (devolving usage decision to battlefield commanders - from the Kremlin) and finally the USA binning the INF Treaty because they claim Russia has developed a successor to the SS-20 mobile missile. Amongst other things the SS-20s and the USA ground based Cruise Missile withdrawal resulted in over 3,000 less nukes. I wonder if Fairford is going to become a very active bomber base with frequent rotations (non-nukes of course) more politically acceptable than permanent nuke capable ground systems. In uncertain times there might be even more need for Rivet Joints, etc., at Mildenhall. We seem to be sliding back to the Cold War
Filmman

[Snoop 95]

Reading an article in the East Anglian Daily Times about the likely outcome of voting in the West Suffolk constituency (which is why I have not provided a link!), it mentions the fact that many of the constituents will not have a vote because they are US nationals, but goes on to say that the Trump administration are "reviewing" the closure decision.
Not sure of the truth of that as trump seems to be bringing home as many of his overseas military as he can.

[Vulcan74]

I don't go on much what Trump says!!

[skidrow]

Latest briefing says that there is no money to support any of the moves from Mildenhall at this time. Needless to say they (USAF) have not said that the closure is reversed but it is becoming more and more unlikely, should be a decision next year around May is what we are hearing.

[Spitfire88]

Well the 95th move to fairford is still on, there’s already personal from the 95th and 488th at fairford, granted I’ve heard nothing about the 100 ARW move or the special ops guys for a while.

[slogen51]

Watching one RC-135 depart per day sounds a lot better than it actually is!

Before this morning's C-17 I thought Mildenhall had closed already - It has been very quiet lately .

[James Cutting]

Well it was NOTAM closed for Thanksgiving from Wednesday until this morning, so that would probably explain it...