The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has announced the completion of the Lossiemouth Development Programme (LDP), a six-year, £350 million project aimed at upgrading RAF Lossiemouth in Moray, according to a press release.
This extensive project was necessary to prepare the base for the arrival of an additional squadron of Typhoons, the RAF’s new P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft, and a US Navy detachment.
The LDP involved significant infrastructure improvements to accommodate the extra aircraft and approximately 750 additional personnel. Upgrades included a newly resurfaced runway, modernised drainage systems, and new facilities for station firefighters. Additionally, an existing hangar was refurbished, and new working spaces were constructed for the Typhoons and personnel of IX(B) Squadron.
David Brewer, DIO Chief Operating Officer, highlighted the collaborative efforts behind the programme: “This is the conclusion of years of hard work and collaboration between DIO, the RAF, TetraTech and our various contractors and subcontractors. The end result is that RAF Lossiemouth’s additional Typhoon squadron, the new airframe in the Poseidon, and our allies in the United States Navy, are all operating from fantastic new or upgraded infrastructure,” Brewer was quoted in the news release.
The upgrades also included seven new Single Living Accommodation (SLA) blocks to house the increased personnel, significant drainage and electrical system improvements, and the installation of Electric Vehicle Charging Points.
For the US Navy, a new accommodation block and a large enclosed wash facility for the P-8A Poseidon aircraft were completed.
Gp Capt Pete Beckett, the lead for the Lossiemouth Development Programme, expressed his satisfaction with the completed project: “The completion of LDP is a huge milestone in the ongoing development of the RAF’s only MOB in Scotland. While we have successfully completed a number of technical upgrades, the main focus has been trying to make the base a better place to both live and work, and to attract more people to this fantastic part of the country.” He added, “There is no doubt we have made RAF Lossiemouth a better place for our people under LDP, and hopefully there is still more to come,” quoted in the news release.
Gp Capt Jim Lee, RAF Lossiemouth Station Commander, underscored the transformation brought by the LDP: “The delivery of LDP has transformed RAF Lossiemouth into the operationally-focused, vibrant station that we see today. With brand new accommodation and upgraded facilities across the estate, we are now ready to secure our skies and seas for decades to come.” He also extended his gratitude to the LDP team, stating, “On behalf of everyone at RAF Lossiemouth, I offer my sincere thanks to the entire LDP team for their many years of hard work,” as quoted in the news release.
The LDP facilities were delivered through the MOD’s Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) with various contractors involved, including Balfour Beatty, VolkerFitzpatrick, Henry Brothers, Lagan Aviation and Infrastructure, FES, and Robertson Construction North.
Looking forward, there is additional investment planned to further improve and future-proof RAF Lossiemouth, including more SLA, a new Air Traffic Control Tower, and a solar array to contribute to the station’s power needs.
As NATO allies, the US Navy’s presence at RAF Lossiemouth with their own Maritime Patrol Aircraft enhances the defence of the UK and Europe, say the MOD. The new facilities for the US Navy were funded jointly by the US Navy and DIO.
I’d missed that USN P8s are being based out of Lossi.
With you on that one DM 🤔
Would those P8s be part of NATO force in practice rather than independent USN ?
No idea, sorry.
Does the upgrade include hardened shelters for the aircraft?
Maybe a missile battery as well, as this base will be hit by Russian missiles in any conflict.
Probably no,but? definitely no and very likely.
Could they not have a ffbnw gun/missile defence…platform..infrastructure or whatever?
Drive your mobile batteries to a high point, plug in and get ready to shoot.
AA
Exactly the post I would have made (great minds think alike 😁). 👍
Dunno, does this programme strike anyone as assisting in the creation of a modern version of Pearl Harbor (Wheeler), circa 1941? 🤔 Yup, line those a/c up wingtip to wingtip. 😳😱🤞🙏
Lossie does have a no. of updated HAS from the cold war but they obviously won’t fit a P8. I don’t know that it really matters though as modern precision guided weapons will still go through hardened shelters.
I think that most people on this site bemoan the lack of air defence (other than Typhoons) for the UK & would like to see ballistic missile defence etc. systems.
If we paint the Missiles red it might make our new Labour government think twice 🤗
Just two HAS sites I recall. There are 4 Typhoon Sqns there.
No doubt some of this work will be provision for Wedgetails.
8 sqn transfers to Lossie in 2025.
the RAF says that 8 sqn are already at Lossie, awaiting their aircraft …
thanks for the update Bud.
Hi Chris.
Yes mate.
I’m not happy with half the RAFs fast jets and it’s entire MPA and ASCS force in one place, sorry!
Completely agree Daniele
Absolutely correct. If the Japanese had known to bomb the fuel farms and had caught the carriers in port, there would have been an entirely different script for the Pacific campaign. If a majority of the eggs are placed into one basket, so to speak, better damn well have world class GBAD to protect it! Can’t understand why RAF is not lobbying USAF, a tenant component, to supply interim measures! Is the Labour government perceptive enough to understand that this deficiency MUST be remedied? Dunno, stay tuned…🤔
Er…RAF is not lobbying USN…🙄
How many USAF bases in the continental USA have active GBAD?
I did read Healey being quoted that UK air defence would be looked at again.
9 iirc but as i said it doesn’t really matter because modern weapons will punch straight through them anyway.
Only 9 HAS?? I thought each site had up to a dozen. I’ll have to check that, seems too few.
I think that each (north & south) has 9 but not sure that they have all been updated.
But the Russian’s don’t have modern weapons 😀
Err good luck with that one John 😏
No.
Yes, so many key assets and personnel and no GBAD for bases, ports facilities like this. It’s hard to fathom and seems a very glaring oversight. Some Sky Sabre batteries able do to be deployable to every UK base should be doable when required. There was a GBAD UK conference on the 11th July, we haven’t heard much from that yet. At least they should’ve been “talking” about it… Lol 😁
I think we can all agree is the most important upgrade is for a better coffee machine. Maybe a Costa vending machine on free vend.
Absolutely 👍
Sounds like they’ve turned it into a bit of a resort. But seriously as others here have said they really need to make the whole base “hardened” asap with some decent GBAD and all the other bases, ports, facilities too. Can’t believe the lack of urgency with this though there is/was some GBAD UK expo going on the 11th July apparently. Why is it so hard to figure out and action? Surely it’ll need more than some Vamtac trucks with Starstreak!? Saying the bloody obvious here, if there’s a very damaged runway it could mean no planes can take off! Except F35Bs, drones and helos or course.
I suspect the reason our bases don’t have active GBAD is the same reason the USAF based don’t have active GBAD. The threat environment doesn’t warrant it and GBAD active in peace time is highly likely to shoot down friendly aircraft.
If the threat environment warrants it army batteries of land ceptor and star steak can be rapidly deployed along with a T45 destroyer infront of the base in an extreme event.
Hi Jim, fair enough and they’d know best of course. But if a conflict ever started, it’s not going to be, all nicities and you first or “please hold on a tick we’re not quite ready…”. I’d expect there”d be next to not much warning. And Kaliningrad, loaded to the hilt with deadly stuff, is not too far away. Why not have even some base level GBAD right now, protect your assets and people. It’s surely basic common sense and use of common inventory too and do they even have enough GBAD CAMM or whatever for all bases and ports right now!? Maybe they should do a mock missile attack on the UK for a Gap analysis exercise to find out and fix it? Why the need to tie up a T45 for GBAD duty when they’re needed for the carriers? If there were an additional two maybe. The air missile shield cover might be thicker on the continent but is that the only direction of a likely attack?
If that happens, the Field Army go without.
Goodo. I hope the MOD is also considering which post cold war bases closed down could be quickly reactivated if needed. Too many eggs in too few baskets making targeting very easy, especialy given such poor UK SAM/ABM defences.
A disguised merchant ship, packed with missiles/drones could creep up & unleash hell on our few virtually undefended bases & vital infrastructure.
Does seem like a balance between centralisation for efficiency and dispersal for resilience. Would dispersal be realistic given the sustainment needs of F35s…
Presumably the maritime patrol means that covert approach is quite difficult unless under water, and given how obvious an approach, maybe not even that..
Many have been built on.
Most ex RAF Stations are now army stations.
at least Kinloss & Leuchars runways are still available
Very much so.
Also the runways at Chivenor, Woodbridge.
Kinloss is huge. Leuchars has the 2 HAS sites.
In fact, we’re not short of runways, just the personnel to allow effective dispersion.
The RAF has been practicing at multiple civilian runways as well. Prestwick and Edinburgh see significant military traffic for training purposes.
It was a sensible move to bring units back from Germany and put them on strategic RAF bases so the runways could be maintained. Kinloss in particular has been heavily used while Lossie was undergoing maintenance.
Definitely. They are strategic assets.
Don’t forget Wick!
Wick? I’m only aware of HMS Vulcan up there., what about Wick?
Used to be a war reserve station, as well as being operated by the H & I’. Kinloss Shackleton units deployed there on exercise from time to time. Also, excellent chippy’. I believe Vulcan is decommissioning’.
Ah, right. Had no idea there was a strip used by the military there.
Yes, V is closing.
Did same raf stafford. Closed everything and moved all stock there. 1 point of failure. Lions led by…….
Agree Frank, a weaponized container ship will be one to watch out for. The West can do the same thing too. Can also be used to block a port, harbour access access, going into/from a Suez Canal. Can you imagine. Hope we’re not being too dramatic here!? 🤷♂️
I wonder what would happen to Gordonstoun (which is just next door) if Lossie was attacked in a hot war scenario?
Don’t like calling it Scottish. It is a British ( or UK if you want) RAF Base in Scotland. If Devonport for example gets an upgrade do we headline ‘ English RN base gets an upgrade’?
The terms of the act of union would recognise them as Scottish and English, before the Second World War the term British was largely confined to the empire.