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List of Royal Air Force stations

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For former RAF stations, see List of former Royal Air Force stations.

RAF Cranwell College Hall

This list of Royal Air Force stations is an overview of all current stations of the Royal Air Force (RAF) throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. This includes front-line and training airbases, support, administrative and training stations with no flying activity, unmanned airfields used for training, intelligence gathering stations and an early warning radar network.

The list also includes RAF stations occupied by the United States Visiting Forces, former RAF stations now operated by defence contractor QinetiQ on behalf of the Ministry of Defence (MOD), and air weapons ranges operated by the MOD.

Overseas, the RAF operates airfields at four Permanent Joint Operating Bases (PJOBs) which are located in British Overseas Territories.

RAF stations and MOD airfields in the UK

[edit]

Royal Air Force

[edit]
RAF Voyager at RAF Brize Norton
RAF Voyager at RAF Brize Norton.
Squirrel Helicopter at RAF Shawbury
Eurocopter Squirrel HT1 at RAF Shawbury.

RAF front-line operations are centred on seven main operating bases (MOBs):

Operations are supported by numerous other flying and non-flying stations, with activity centred at RAF Honington which coordinates Force Protection, and RAF Leeming and RAF Wittering which have a support enabler role.

Stations such as RAF Cranwell, RAF Valley and RAF Shawbury form part of the UK Military Flying Training System, which is dedicated to training aircrew for all three UK armed services. Specialist ground crew training takes place at RAF Cosford and MOD St Athan.

The Control and Reporting Centre (CRC) at RAF Boulmer is tasked with compiling a Recognised Air Picture of UK airspace and providing tactical control of the Quick Reaction Alert Force. Boulmer is supported by a network of seven Remote Radar Heads (RRHs) spread throughout the UK.

Ministry of Defence

[edit]

Several former RAF stations are still owned by the Ministry of Defence (MOD), and are operated by defence contractor QinetiQ in the test and evaluation role. The main facility is MOD Boscombe Down in Wiltshire, which still has a significant RAF presence.

A small number of former RAF stations remain in MOD ownership even though they are used by the RAF in the relief landing ground (RLG) role, flying by Volunteer Gliding Squadrons or other training purposes. They are described as airfields and are typically unmanned.

RAF stations

[edit]
Name Constituent
country		 County Units and purpose
RAF Barkston Heath England Lincolnshire Defence Elementary Flying Training School, comprising 703 Naval Air Squadron, part of the UK Military Flying Training System, which operates the Grob Prefect T1 in the elementary flying training role.[1] Also operates as a Relief Landing Ground (RLG), predominately used by Prefect T1's of No. 3 Flying Training School from RAF Cranwell.[1]
RAF Barnham England Suffolk Non-flying satellite site of RAF Honington providing domestic accommodation and training facilities for the RAF Regiment.[2] Expected to close and be disposed of by 2027.[3]
RAF Benson England Oxfordshire Airbase home to Puma Support Helicopter Force fleet operating under Joint Aviation Command, comprising No. 33 Squadron and No. 230 Squadron operating the Westland Puma HC2 and No. 28 (AC) Squadron operating the Puma and Boeing Chinook HC6A.[4]
RAF Boulmer England Northumberland Non-flying station, home to the RAF Battlespace Management Force, UK Air Surveillance and Control System (UKASCS), and a NATO Control and Reporting Centre responsible for monitoring UK airspace.[5]
RAF Brize Norton England Oxfordshire The RAF's largest station, home to the strategic and tactical air-transport and air-to-air refuelling fleets (Boeing C-17A Globemaster, Airbus Voyager KC2/KC3, and the Airbus A400M Atlas, and latterly Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules C4/5 until their retirement in 2023).[6]
RAF Coningsby England Lincolnshire Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 main operating base, with No. 3 Squadron and No. 11 Squadron both contributing to the Quick Reaction Alert (Interceptor) South capability. No. 29 Squadron is the Typhoon operational conversion unit, and No. 41 Squadron operate the Typhoon for test and evaluation purposes.[7] Also home to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight operate a fleet of historic fighter, bomber and training aircraft in the flying display role.[7]
RAF Cosford England Shropshire Training establishment, home to the Defence School of Aeronautical Engineering (DSAE) Headquarters, No. 1 School of Technical Training, the RAF Aerosystems Engineer and Management Training School, No. 1 Radio School, Defence School of Photography, and the RAF School of Physical Training. Flying units include the University of Birmingham Air Squadron, No. 8 Air Experience Flight. Also home to the RAF Museum Cosford.[8]
RAF Cranwell England Lincolnshire Training establishment, home to RAF College Cranwell (RAFC Cranwell), the Officer and Aircrew Selection Centre (OASC), and Air Cadets Headquarters. Flying units comprise the Central Flying School responsible for training flying instructors, the headquarters and flying squadrons of No. 3 Flying Training School (Embraer Phenom T1 and Grob Prefect T1) and No. 6 Flying Training School flying the Grob Tutor T1.[9]
RAF Digby England Lincolnshire Non-flying station providing specialist communications support under command of Defence Intelligence. Station personnel are drawn from all three branches of the UK armed forces, along with the U.S. National Security Agency. Home to the Joint Services Signals Organisation Headquarters, Joint Signals Service Unit (Digby), No. 591 Signals Unit, and the Aerial Erector School.[10]
RAF Fylingdales England North Yorkshire Non-flying station providing an uninterrupted ballistic missile early warning and space surveillance capability to the UK and US governments.[11]
RAF Halton England Buckinghamshire Training establishment comprising the Recruit Training Squadron, Airmen's Command Squadron, International Defence Training, Supply and Management Training Wing, Specialist Training School, and several other RAF and joint support units.[12] A grass airfield provides a base for several RAF flying clubs.[13] Expected to close and be disposed of by December 2025.
RAF Henlow England Bedfordshire Support station, home to several RAF and Strategic Command units, including the RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine, the Joint Arms Control Implementation Group (JACIG), elements of Engineering Operations under Defence Digital, Defence Cultural Specialist Unit, the Band of the Queen's Division, and specialist units of the RAF Police.[14] Its grass airfield is used by two flying clubs. Expected to close and be disposed of by 2026.[15]
RAF High Wycombe England Buckinghamshire Non-flying administrative support station, home to Headquarters RAF Air Command, No. 1 Group, No. 2 Group, No. 11 Group, and No. 22 Group.[16]
RAF Honington England Suffolk Support station, hosts initial and further training for, and is home to the RAF Regiment. The majority of the RAF Regiment, including the RAF Force Protection Headquarters and Force Protection Centre, and numerous RAF Regiment, RAF Police, and RAuxAF squadrons are based here. Also hosts RAF Police Headquarters and the Specialist Police Wing.[17]
RAF Leeming England North Yorkshire Home to the Yorkshire Universities Air Squadron, Northumbrian Universities Air Squadron, and both No. 9 and No. 11 Air Experience Flight, sharing the Grob Tutor T1. Non flying units include No. 607 (County of Durham) Squadron (RAuxAF) No. 85 (Expeditionary Logistics) Wing, No. 90 Signals Unit, No. 2 Force Protection Wing, No. 34 Squadron RAF Regiment, No. 609 (West Riding) Squadron (RAuxAF), and the Joint Forward Air Controller Training and Standards Unit (JFACTSU).[18]
RAF Lossiemouth Scotland Moray Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 main operating base, with No. 1 Squadron, No. 2 (AC) Squadron, No. 6 Squadron, and No. 9 Squadron, contributing to the Quick Reaction Alert (Interceptor) North capability. No. 120 Squadron and No. 201 Squadron operate the P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. No. 5 Force Protection Wing HQ, No. 51 Squadron RAF Regiment, and No. 2622 (Highland) Squadron (RAuxAF) operate in the force protection role.[19]
RAF Marham England Norfolk F-35B Lightning II main operating base, home to No. 207 Squadron and No. 617 Squadron. Non-flying units include No. 3 Force Protection Wing HQ, No. 93 Expeditionary Armament Squadron, and No. 2620 (County of Norfolk) Squadron (RAuxAF).[20][21]
RAF Mona Wales Isle of Anglesey Relief Landing Ground (RLG) for training aircraft operating from RAF Valley.[22]
RAF Northolt England Greater London Home of No. 32 (The Royal) Squadron operating the Envoy IV CC1 and Leonardo AW109SP GrandNew in the Command Support Air Transport (CSAT) role. Also home to No. 63 Squadron (King's Colour Squadron) RAF Regiment, No. 600 (City of London) Squadron (RAuxAF), No. 1 Aeronautical Information Documents Unit (AIDU), and the Headquarters Music Services and the Central Band of the RAF. Several other military units are based at Northolt, including the British Forces Post Office and No. 621 (EOD) Squadron of the Royal Logistics Corps.[23]
RAF Odiham England Hampshire Home of the RAF's Chinook fleet operating under Joint Aviation Command, comprising No. 7 Squadron, No. 18 Squadron, and No. 27 Squadron.[24]
RAF Shawbury England Shropshire Home of the tri-service No. 1 Flying Training School, comprising No. 60 Squadron RAF, No. 660 Squadron AAC, and 705 Naval Air Squadron FAA, flying the Airbus Juno HT1. Elements of the Central Flying School (Helicopter) Squadron train helicopter flying instructors, and the School of Air Operations Control (SAOC) trains air traffic controllers for the RAF and Royal Navy.[25]
RAF Spadeadam England Cumbria RAF Spadeadam is the only electronic warfare tactics facility in Europe used by NATO and British aircrews to practice tactics. It is the largest RAF base by area, at 9,600-acre.[26]
RAF St Mawgan England Cornwall Non-flying station with its airfield part now operating as Newquay Airport. The station is home to the tri-service Defence Survive, Evade, Resist, Extract Training Organisation and No. 505 (Wessex) Squadron RAuxAF.[27] Also used by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation to accommodate personnel utilising the Defence Training Estate within the south west of England.[28]
RAF Syerston England Nottinghamshire Home of No. 2 Flying Training School headquarters, the Central Gliding School, and No. 644 Volunteer Gliding Squadron.[29]
RAF Topcliffe England North Yorkshire Former larger RAF station, now an enclave within the British Army's Alanbrooke Barracks, with the airfield retained by the RAF and used by No. 645 Volunteer Gliding Squadron teaching Air Cadets to fly the Grob Viking.[30]
RAF Valley Wales Isle of Anglesey Flying training station home to No. 4 Flying Training School, comprising No. 4 Squadron and No. 25 Squadron operating the BAE Systems Hawk T2 and No. 72 Squadron operating the Texan T1. Also No. 202 Squadron, part of No. 1 Flying Training School, operates the Airbus Jupiter HT1 in the maritime and mountain flying training role. The station is also home to the RAF Mountain Rescue Service headquarters.[31]
RAF Waddington England Lincolnshire Main operating base, home to the RAF's Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) operations. No. 8 Squadron operate the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail, No. 13 Squadron the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper, No. 14 Squadron the Beechcraft Shadow R1, and No. 51 Squadron the Boeing RC-135V Rivet Joint. No. 54 Squadron is the ISTAR training unit, and No. 56 Squadron is the ISTAR test and evaluation unit.[32] Non-flying squadrons and units include No. 2503 (County of Lincoln) Squadron RAuxAF Regiment, the RAF Air Battlespace Training Centre, RAF Air and Space Warfare Centre, the headquarters of the intelligence reserves, and No. 7006 (VR) Intelligence Squadron.[33]
RAF Weston-on-the-Green England Oxfordshire Force Development Training Centre, used by No. 1 Parachute Training School (based at nearby RAF Brize Norton) as a parachute drop-zone.[34]
RAF Wittering England Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire Support station accommodating elements of the RAF Support Force which supports deployed and expeditionary air operations, and comprises a variety of units under No. 42 (Expeditionary Support) Wing and No. 85 (Expeditionary Logistics) Wing.[35] Flying units consist of No. 16 Squadron of No. 3 Flying Training School and No. 115 Squadron, University of London Air Squadron, Cambridge University Air Squadron, and No. 5 Air Experience Flight of No. 6 Flying Training School, all flying the Grob Tutor T1.[36]
RAF Woodvale England Merseyside Training station home to Liverpool University Air Squadron, Manchester and Salford Universities Air Squadron, and No. 10 Air Experience Flight, all flying the Grob Tutor T1, along with No. 631 Volunteer Gliding Squadron. The Station is also home to No. 611 (West Lancashire) Squadron RAuxAF.[37]
RAF Wyton England Cambridgeshire Non-flying intelligence station operated under Strategic Command, home to the National Centre for Geospatial Intelligence (NCGI) of Defence Intelligence and 42 Engineer Regiment (Geographic) of the British Army.[38]

Non-RAF stations used by the RAF

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These are MOD or British Army facilities (most former RAF stations) listed in recognition of the RAF retaining a presence at each site.

Name Constituent
country		 County Units and purpose
MOD Aberporth Wales Ceredigion Former RAE Aberporth, now operated by QinetiQ on behalf of the MOD as a test and evaluation range.[39]
MOD Boscombe Down England Wiltshire Test and evaluation airbase operated by QinetiQ on behalf of the MOD. Home to the Air Test and Evaluation Centre, Empire Test Pilots School, Rotary Wing Test and Evaluation Squadron, and the Joint Aircraft Recovery and Transportation Squadron.[40][41]
MOD Hebrides Scotland Outer Hebrides Deep sea range for complex weapons trials, currently operated by QinetiQ on behalf of the MOD as a test and evaluation range.[42]
MOD St. Athan Wales Vale of Glamorgan Training station (formerly RAF St. Athan), home to No. 4 School of Technical Training and the University of Wales Air Squadron flying the Grob Tutor T1.[43]
MOD West Freugh Scotland Dumfries and Galloway Former RAF station, now operated by QinetiQ on behalf of the MOD as a test and evaluation range. Its airfield is disused and unlicensed, but available for military exercises.[44]
Aldergrove Flying Station Northern Ireland County Antrim Formerly RAF Aldergrove, the station is now a British Army facility.[45] The RAF maintains a presence with the Northern Ireland Universities Air Squadron and No. 13 Air Experience Flight operating the Grob Tutor T1 and No. 502 (Ulster) Squadron (Royal Auxiliary Air Force).[46]
Kenley Airfield England Surrey Former RAF station, currently home to No. 615 Volunteer Gliding Squadron flying the Grob Viking T1.[47]
Keevil Airfield England Wiltshire Former RAF station, now an unmanned airfield used for training purposes predominantly by aircraft from RAF Brize Norton.[48] It is also used by the British Army for ground exercises, by Joint Aviation Command,[49] and by 47th Regiment Royal Artillery to fly the Watchkeeper UAV.[50]
Kirknewton Airfield Scotland Midlothian Former RAF station, home to No. 661 Volunteer Gliding Squadron flying the Grob Viking T1.
Leuchars Station Scotland Fife Relief Landing Ground (RLG) for RAF Lossiemouth, maintained by a small number of RAF personnel operating the airfield and air traffic control radar. This former RAF station is now a British Army barracks, but continues to accommodate the East of Scotland Universities Air Squadron and No. 12 Air Experience Flight (both flying the Grob Tutor T1), and No. 612 (County of Aberdeen) Squadron (Royal Auxiliary Air Force) in the medical support role.[45][51]
Little Rissington Airfield England Gloucestershire Former RAF station, currently home to No. 621 Volunteer Gliding Squadron and No. 637 Volunteer Gliding Squadron. It is also used for military training exercises.[52]
London Area Control Centre England Hampshire No. 78 Squadron is embedded in the civilian London Area Control Centre operated by NATS at Swanwick. It provides a military air traffic control service across the UK, operates the UK's Distress and Diversion Cell, and provides air traffic control services for RAF Northolt.[53]
Ternhill Airfield England Shropshire Former RAF station, unmanned airfield now used primarily for training purposes and as a Relief Landing Ground for helicopters of the No. 1 Flying Training School.[54]
Upavon Airfield England Wiltshire Formerly RAF Upavon now known as Upavon Station, north site now operated by the British Army as Trenchard Lines, airfield used by No. 622 Volunteer Gliding Squadron which teaches Air Cadets to fly the Grob Viking T1.[55]

Remote Radar Heads

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Remote Radar Heads (RRHs) are the UK's air defence radar sites. The RRHs can now be monitored centrally with only limited on-site radar maintenance support. This has enabled the release of the majority of RAF personnel previously based permanently at these locations. The sites are maintained and operated primarily by Serco.[56] The MOD finished installing new state-of-the-art communications buildings, radar towers and bespoke perimeter security on the sites in 2023 under Programme HYDRA.

Name Constituent
country		 County Units and purpose
RRH Benbecula Scotland Outer Hebrides Remote Radar Head (formerly RAF Benbecula) forming part of the UK Air Surveillance and Control System managed from RAF Boulmer.[57]
RRH Brizlee Wood England Northumberland Remote Radar Head (formerly RAF Brizlee Wood) forming part of the UK Air Surveillance and Control System managed from RAF Boulmer.[57]
RRH Buchan Scotland Aberdeenshire Remote Radar Head (formerly RAF Buchan) forming part of the UK Air Surveillance and Control System managed from RAF Boulmer.[57]
RRH Neatishead England Norfolk Remote Radar Head (formerly RAF Neatishead), forming part of the UK Air Surveillance and Control System managed from RAF Boulmer.[57]
RRH Portreath England Cornwall Remote Radar Head (formerly RAF Portreath) forming part of the UK Air Surveillance and Control System managed from RAF Boulmer.[57]
RRH Staxton Wold England North Yorkshire Remote Radar Head (formerly RAF Staxton Wold) forming part of the UK Air Surveillance and Control System managed from RAF Boulmer.[58]
RRH Saxa Vord Scotland Shetland Islands Remote Radar Head (formerly RAF Saxa Vord) forming part of the UK Air Surveillance and Control System managed from RAF Boulmer.[59]

RAF stations operated by the United States Visiting Forces

[edit]
A CV-22B Osprey of the US Air Force's 352nd Special Operations Wing at RAF Mildenhall, 2013.
Further information: United States Air Force in the United Kingdom

At the invitation of the UK Government, the United States has had military forces (known as US Visiting Forces) permanently stationed in the United Kingdom since the Second World War. The 1951 NATO Status of Forces Agreement and the Visiting Forces Act 1952, along with other bilateral acts, establishes the legal status of the USVF in the UK. Several military sites within England are made available for the USVF's purposes.

A Royal Air Force commander is present at the main USVF sites, and is normally of the rank of Squadron Leader, whereas a US Colonel will normally command US personnel at each station. The role of the RAF commander is to liaise with the US base commander, and act as head of establishment for Ministry of Defence employees. The use of UK bases for combat operations by the United States is a joint decision by both governments.[60]

The United States Air Force (USAF) 501st Combat Support Wing manages and supports operations at RAF Alconbury, RAF Croughton, RAF Fairford, RAF Menwith Hill, RAF Molesworth, and RAF Welford, whereas RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall are managed by their respective host wings.

Name Constituent
country		 County Units and purpose
RAF Alconbury England Cambridgeshire Non-flying station home to the USAF 423rd Air Base Group (part of the 501st Combat Support Wing) which provides services and accommodation to support operations at RAF Molesworth and the Joint Warfare Centre, Stavanger in Norway.[61]
RAF Barford St John England Oxfordshire Non-flying station operated as a signals intelligence relay station by the USAF. The facility is a satellite station of RAF Croughton and controlled remotely.[62]
RAF Croughton England Northamptonshire Non-flying station operated as a signals intelligence facility by the USAF and US intelligence agencies. The station is operated by the USAF 422nd Air Base Group (part of the 501st Combat Support Wing).[63][64]
RAF Fairford England Gloucestershire Forward operating airfield predominately used by USAF heavy bombers such as the B-1B Lancer, B-2A Spirit and B-52H Stratofortress. The station is operated by the USAF 420th Air Base Squadron, 422nd Air Base Group (part of the 501st Combat Support Wing).[65] The Royal International Air Tattoo, the world's largest military air show, is held at Fairford annually in July.[66]
RAF Feltwell England Norfolk Non-flying station, operated as an intelligence gathering facility by a detachment of the US Space Force's 73rd Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Squadron, which is assigned to Space Delta 7. Feltwell is parented by the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath.[67]
RAF Lakenheath England Suffolk Home to the USAF 48th Fighter Wing, operating the F-15C/D Eagle, F-15E Strike Eagle, and F-35A Lightning II.[68][69]
RAF Menwith Hill England North Yorkshire Joint UK / US signals intelligence gathering station which functions primarily as a field station of the US National Security Agency.[70] Operations are supported by the USAF 421st Air Base Squadron which is part of the 501st Combat Support Wing.[71]
RAF Mildenhall England Suffolk Home to the USAF 100th Air Refuelling Wing operating the KC-135R Stratotanker, and the 352nd Special Operations Wing operating the CV-22 Osprey and MC-130J Commando II. The 95th Reconnaissance Squadron supports RC-135 aircraft when deployed to Europe and operating from the station.[72]
RAF Molesworth England Cambridgeshire Non-flying station, home to the Joint Intelligence Operations Center Europe (JIOCEUR) Analytic Center operated by the US Defense Intelligence Agency and the J2 Directorate which provides US Africa Command with intelligence.[73] The station is supported by the USAF 423rd Air Base Group (part of the 501st Combat Support Wing).[61]
RAF Welford England Berkshire Non-flying station used as ammunition depot in support of bomber operating from RAF Fairford. The station is operated by the USAF 420th Munitions Squadron (part of the 501st Combat Support Wing).[74]

MOD air weapons ranges

[edit]

Air weapons ranges (AWR) within the United Kingdom, previously operated by the Royal Air Force, are the responsibility of the Service Delivery (SD) part of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO). QinetiQ were awarded a three-year contract by the DIO in 2010 to manage the ranges, but this role was taken over by Landmarc Support Services (part of Interserve) in 2014 as part of a contract covering the wider MOD Defence Training Estate.[75][76]

Name Constituent
country		 County Units and purpose
DIO (SD) Cape Wrath Scotland Highland Parented by DIO (SD) Tain.
DIO (SD) Donna Nook Air Weapons Range England Lincolnshire Parented by RAF Coningsby.
DIO (SD) Holbeach Air Weapons Range England Lincolnshire Parented by RAF Marham.
DIO (SD) Pembrey Sands Air Weapons Range Wales Carmarthenshire
DIO (SD) Tain Air Weapons Range Scotland Highland Parented by RAF Lossiemouth.

Map of stations within the UK

[edit]

Map of the United Kingdom showing active RAF stations, Ministry of Defence (MOD) airfields (non-Royal Navy or Army Air Corps), MOD air weapons ranges and RAF stations occupied by the United States Visiting Forces (USVF).

List of Royal Air Force stations is located in the United Kingdom
Barkston Heath
Barkston Heath
Barnham
Barnham
Benson
Benson
Boulmer
Boulmer
Brize Norton
Brize Norton
Coningsby
Coningsby
Cosford
Cosford
Cranwell
Cranwell
Digby
Digby
Fylingdales
Fylingdales
Halton
Halton
Henlow
Henlow
High Wycombe
High Wycombe
Honington
Honington
Kirknewton
Kirknewton
Leeming
Leeming
Lossiemouth
Lossiemouth
Marham
Marham
Mona
Mona
Northolt
Northolt
Odiham
Odiham
Shawbury
Shawbury
St. Mawgan
St. Mawgan
Swanwick
Swanwick
Syerston
Syerston
Ternhill
Ternhill
Topcliffe
Topcliffe
Trimingham
Trimingham
Valley
Valley
Waddington
Waddington
WOTG
WOTG
Wittering
Wittering
Woodvale
Woodvale
Wyton
Wyton
Benbecula
Benbecula
Brizlee Wood
Brizlee Wood
Buchan
Buchan
Neatishead
Neatishead
Portreath
Portreath
Saxa Vord
Saxa Vord
Staxton Wold
Staxton Wold
Spadeadam
Spadeadam
Cape Wrath
Cape Wrath
Donna Nook
Donna Nook
Holbeach
Holbeach
Pembrey Sands
Pembrey Sands
Tain
Tain
Aberporth
Aberporth
Boscombe Down
Boscombe Down
Hebrides
Hebrides
St. Athan
St. Athan
West Freugh
West Freugh
Alconbury
Alconbury
Barford St John
Barford St John
Croughton
Croughton
Fairford
Fairford
Feltwell
Feltwell
LN
LN
Menwith Hill
Menwith Hill
Mildenhall
Mildenhall
Molesworth
Molesworth
Welford
Welford
class=notpageimage|
Flying Station Training Station Support Station UK Air Surveillance And Control System Sites Air Weapons Range MOD Aeronautical Test and Evaluation Site US Air Force Installation
WOTG = Weston-on-the-Green, LN = Lakenheath

RAF stations and locations overseas

[edit]
An RAF Harrier GR9 over RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, 2010.
An RAF Harrier GR9 over RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, 2010.

Permanent Joint Operating Bases

[edit]

The United Kingdom operates Permanent Joint Operating Bases (PJOBs) in four British Overseas Territories, namely Ascension Island, the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia in Cyprus, the Falkland Islands and Gibraltar.

The Falklands Islands also have three Remote Radar Heads, forming part of an early warning and airspace control network.[77][78]

The PJOBs contribute to the physical defence and maintenance of sovereignty of these British Overseas Territories and enable the UK to conduct expeditionary military operations.[79]

The Director of Overseas Bases, Strategic Command, controls and oversees the PJOBs.[80]

Name Country Units and purpose
RAF Akrotiri Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia
RAF Ascension Island  Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Also known as Wideawake Airfield, this Permanent Joint Operating Base predominately operating as a staging post for the air-bridge between RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire and RAF Mount Pleasant in the Falkland Islands.[84]

Also used by the United States Space Force (USSF) and NASA as a communications and satellite tracking station.

RAF Gibraltar  Gibraltar Permanent Joint Operating Base acting as a strategic staging airfield. Also functions as Gibraltar International Airport which comprises a civilian passenger terminal operated by Government of Gibraltar.[85]
RAF Mount Pleasant  Falkland Islands Permanent Joint Operating Base opened in 1985 after the Falklands War. No. 905 Expeditionary Air Wing operates four permanently based Typhoon FGR4s, one Voyager KC2, one A400M Atlas, and civilian-crewed support and search and rescue helicopters.[86][87][88]
RRH Byron Heights  Falkland Islands Remote Radar Head located on West Falkland.[89]
RRH Mount Alice  Falkland Islands Remote Radar Head located on West Falkland.[89]
RRH Mount Kent  Falkland Islands Remote Radar Head located on East Falkland.[89]

Overseas operations

[edit]

The Royal Air Force has a presence at several overseas locations. Active military operations in the Middle East are supported by Expeditionary Air Wings (EAW) which have been established at foreign airfields in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. The RAF has a presence within Eastern European countries on a rotational basis as part of NATO's Baltic Air Policing and Southern Air Policing missions. No. 17 Test and Evaluation Squadron is located in the United States at Edwards Air Force Base in California, where test and evaluation of the F-35B Lighting II is undertaken. Donnelly Lines, a permanent UK military facility at a United Arab Emirates (UAE) air base, was opened most recently, in 2024.[90]

Name Country Units and purpose
Ämari Air Base  Estonia The RAF has contributed to NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission in Estonia on a rotational basis, most recently providing Quick Reaction Alert with Typhoon FGR4s in 2023.[91][92]
Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base  Romania The RAF has contributed to NATO's Southern Air Policing mission on a rotational basis, most recently providing Quick Reaction Alert with Typhoon FGR4s in 2024.[93]
Šiauliai Air Base  Lithuania The RAF has contributed to NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission in Lithuania on a rotational basis, most recently providing Quick Reaction Alert with Typhoon FGR4s in 2020.[94]
Keflavik Airport  Iceland The RAF has contributed to NATO's Icelandic Air Policing mission on a rotational basis, most recently providing Quick Reaction Alert with F-35 Lightning IIs in 2024.[95]
Al Udeid Air Base  Qatar No. 83 Expeditionary Air Group was established in April 2006 as the headquarters for all RAF assets in the Middle East, and is responsible for UK air operations as part of Operation Kipon and Operation Shader.[96]
Edwards Air Force Base  United States No. 17 Squadron formed at Edwards in April 2013 to test and evaluate the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II.[97]
Medicina Lines  Brunei British Army garrison and headquarters of British Forces Brunei, home to No. 230 Squadron operating the Puma HC2.[98]
RAF Troodos  Cyprus Signals intelligence gathering and radar station located in the Troodos Mountains, outside the Sovereign Base Areas. Operated by Golf Section of the Joint Service Signal Unit (Cyprus).[99]
Donnelly Lines, Al Minhad Air Base  United Arab Emirates No. 906 Expeditionary Air Wing was established in January 2013 to provide an air transport and refuelling hub in the Middle East.[100][101] A permanent British headquarters with accommodation and welfare facilities was opened in 2024 as Donnelly Lines.[102]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]

Citations

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "RAF College Cranwell". RAF.MoD.uk. Royal Air Force. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  2. ^ "A Better Defence Estate" (PDF). GOV.UK. Ministry of Defence. 7 November 2016. p. 29. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  3. ^ "Defence Estate Optimisation (DEO) Disposal Timeline from 2021" (PDF). GOV.UK. Ministry of Defence. November 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  4. ^ "Welcome to RAF Benson". RAF.MoD.uk. Royal Air Force. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  5. ^ "RAF Boulmer". RAF.MoD.uk. Royal Air Force. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  6. ^ "RAF Brize Norton – Organisation". RAF.MoD.uk. Royal Air Force. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
  7. ^ a b "RAF Coningsby – Squadrons". RAF.MoD.uk. Royal Air Force. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
  8. ^ "RAF Cosford – Who is based here". RAF.MoD.uk. Royal Air Force. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
  9. ^ "RAF College Cranwell – About us". RAF.MoD.uk. Royal Air Force. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  10. ^ "Welcome to RAF Digby". RAF.MoD.uk. Royal Air Force. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  11. ^ "RAF Fylingdales – Why we are here". RAF.MoD.uk. Royal Air Force. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  12. ^ "RAF Halton – Who is based here?". RAF.MoD.uk. Royal Air Force. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
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