UK to extend Typhoon OSD to 2040 and form additional two sqn

[Trenchard]

When was Leeming used by 29 Sqn Typhoons?

Earlier this year - while Coningsby hosted the ACPV I believe.

[Lightningnut]

Leuchars has the infrastructure having recently been used by 1 & 6 squadrons

[Thunder]

For a couple of days then, a week at most?


Leuchars should have the infrastructure, depending on how much of it was sent up to Lossie and how much hasn't been stripped out since. However I don't think the bank balance will allow another FJ station so the logical answer would be to use what we already have, Lossie and Coningsby.

[Trenchard]

For a couple of days then, a week at most?


Leuchars should have the infrastructure, depending on how much of it was sent up to Lossie and how much hasn't been stripped out since. However I don't think the bank balance will allow another FJ station so the logical answer would be to use what we already have, Lossie and Coningsby.

Or Leeming, which has the space, and is currently underused.

[Gary]

During the defence question they said there won't be a answer regarding the basing today I look forward to the North / South debate to rumble on until they finally announce it

[Lightningnut]

davdin - They don't have the whole airfield and it still has RAF personnel in place providing air traffic, fire service, UAS and of course it also has an active runway

[Thunder]

For a couple of days then, a week at most?


Leuchars should have the infrastructure, depending on how much of it was sent up to Lossie and how much hasn't been stripped out since. However I don't think the bank balance will allow another FJ station so the logical answer would be to use what we already have, Lossie and Coningsby.

Or Leeming, which has the space, and is currently underused.

which would require vast amounts to be spent on it to take it up to an fully Operational Typhoon base.

[Trenchard]

For a couple of days then, a week at most?


Leuchars should have the infrastructure, depending on how much of it was sent up to Lossie and how much hasn't been stripped out since. However I don't think the bank balance will allow another FJ station so the logical answer would be to use what we already have, Lossie and Coningsby.

Or Leeming, which has the space, and is currently underused.

which would require vast amounts to be spent on it to take it up to an fully Operational Typhoon base.

Actually not that much - but as they've stated they won't be saying today where these aircraft will be based it's moot until formally announced.

[Agent K]

I'd imagine a lot of the infrastructure went up the road to Lossie when the Typhoons did, which would leave it in no better or indeed no worse a state than Leeming which had infrastructure in place as an F3 base. However, this is all speculation and as said, time will tell!

[Bluetail]

C,mon folks get real

Leuchars is now an Army base and has no chance under this government of being re-instated to the RAF
Kinloss is also an Army base and equally has no chance of being re-instated to the RAF.
The DIO/MOD have probably no appetite and certainly no manpower/money to resurrect an already closed base back to its once former owners.

What may happen at Kinloss (and its a big may) is that use of some of those new buildings built for MRA4 such as the old Simulator building may be used to support a P8 Simulator. Lossie although a big base has currently very limited infrastructure or room for expansion (for buildings etc) whereas potentially 10 miles down the road there are several unused new buildings just waiting for new occupants.

As for the two new Typhoon squadrons, one will be a current Tornado Sqn and the other a former Fighter unit whose number plate is available (both will be below the number 20), forget 43, 74 & 111 all pipedreams and will not be reformed.

Without a doubt the biggest problem is manpower, just where are they going to come from, the Navy are in particularly dire straights, and the shortage of groundcrew alone in the RAF is a problem. Then we have to consider aircrew manning the crews for the P8 after they were all sacked following SDSR 2010, fortunately Project Seedcorn retained some expertise but 50 or so guys don't make for nearly enough, they will be just the trainers.

[Doughnut]

Further to my previous post. Could one of the additional Typhoon squadrons be the previously mentioned 'aggressor' unit ? If this were co-located with 29 sqn, moved from Coningsby to Leeming would that not provide space for three operational sqn at Lossimouth and three operational at Coningsby. What support does 41 sqn require, could they move to Leeming as well ?

[Agent K]

Interesting thoughts, I had exactly the same, and makes a fair amount of sense.

[Phoon]

Further to my previous post. Could one of the additional Typhoon squadrons be the previously mentioned 'aggressor' unit ? If this were co-located with 29 sqn, moved from Coningsby to Leeming would that not provide space for three operational sqn at Lossimouth and three operational at Coningsby. What support does 41 sqn require, could they move to Leeming as well ?

Leeming is the logical answer. Lets not forget it was commissioned as a Tornado F3 base in 1988 to plug the gap between Leuchars and Coningsby. With that gap even further apart Leeming would be the obvious choice, The HAS have had recent expenditure and as shown in Oct, the base is quite capable of operating Typhoons with relative small investment compared to reactivating Leuchars. Of course one extra squadron may move into the existing bases operating Typhoons, meaning the BBMF may be on the move...............

[Spitfire88]

Responding to him, the PM says ''Scotland is getting more Typhoons and maritime vessels''

A clue maybe?

[gamecock]

I'd be astonished if the Typhoons were based anywhere other than Lossie and Coningsby. The infrastructure investment for a permanent Typhoon base dwarfs what was needed for Tornado. A quick look at the ongoing changes at Lossie will tell you that.

[Thunder]

Leeming is the logical answer. Lets not forget it was commissioned as a Tornado F3 base in 1988 to plug the gap between Leuchars and Coningsby. With that gap even further apart Leeming would be the obvious choice, The HAS have had recent expenditure and as shown in Oct, the base is quite capable of operating Typhoons with relative small investment compared to reactivating Leuchars. Of course one extra squadron may move into the existing bases operating Typhoons, meaning the BBMF may be on the move...............

No it's not . There's a massive difference between using the base as a bolthole for a week compared to being a fully operational base supporting sustained operations. It ain't going to happen.

[onemac]

Responding to him, the PM says ''Scotland is getting more Typhoons and maritime vessels''

A clue maybe?

Yup - I heard that. Let the speculation begin........ (or continue)

Al

[ArabJazzie]

If Leuchars is just an army base now, why does the airfield side still operate? I am also led to believe that all Typhoon infrastructure is still in place and the runway aint all that old either.

Despite the promised 5000 troops, i believe much less than a 1000 have actually made it to Leuchars which means there is space for 2 lighter RAF units moving in! However, i have said before that all i see happening is a fence will go up on the 1 n 6 lines at Lossie and all of a sudden, 2 new number plates appear!
Arabest,
Geoff.

[Phoon]

Leeming is the logical answer. Lets not forget it was commissioned as a Tornado F3 base in 1988 to plug the gap between Leuchars and Coningsby. With that gap even further apart Leeming would be the obvious choice, The HAS have had recent expenditure and as shown in Oct, the base is quite capable of operating Typhoons with relative small investment compared to reactivating Leuchars. Of course one extra squadron may move into the existing bases operating Typhoons, meaning the BBMF may be on the move...............

No it's not . There's a massive difference between using the base as a bolthole for a week compared to being a fully operational base supporting sustained operations. It ain't going to happen.

Most heavy maintenance and engineering is conducted at Coningsby (TMF) - all Lossie examples have to come south for major work. I doubt there is space for two additional squadrons and the P-8s (they alone will need a massive amount of personnel) at Lossiemouth, so unless they are split 50/50 with Coningsby (which is also full and does not have enough space) then I think we may get a another FJ base. In addition if we receive 138 F-35s I would doubt Marham has the space to accommodate all. Ideally a third QRA point is needed between the two. Leemings HAS sites (along with Honington) were at the time of commissioning the most advanced in the Air Force.

[Phoon]

In addition, a quick read through the SDR document does not mention any proposed basing other than the P-8s. (unless ive missed something).