Construction of the structure at the Lincolnshire base began in June 2019 under a £35.2-million contract with industry partner BAE Systems.
According to a news release from DE&S, the 2,780 sq m building will house 12 Squadron, a unique joint RAF/Qatari Emiri Air Force partnership and despite the restrictions of COVID-19 the build continued uninterrupted, achieving a transfer of ownership to RAF Coningsby in June 2020.
“The project was overseen by the DE&S Force Growth & Qatari Joint Squadron team in consultation with 12 Squadron, the Defence Infrastructure Organisation and sponsor 38 Group, delivered in partnership with BAES. Using modern modular construction techniques, the joint team was able to fast-track the design and build of these facilities, ensuring they are ready for the first Qatari pilots and ground crew arriving at RAF Coningsby to continue their training.
The project took around 60 weeks to complete and, under the direction of BAES, involved a team of 30 sub-contractors from both national and local supply chains using nearly 1,500 tonnes of concrete and more than 1,000 tonnes of steel.”
The building has been designed to deliver both the immediate needs of the joint squadron, accommodating specific cultural/ religious requirements of Qatari colleagues, but it is also multi-functional and flexible, therefore able to react to longer term requirements of the RAF.
Very good, how much is Qatar paying for the training and typhoons again?
So, it is not just a headquarters for pilots.
Will the Qatar jets be based here a lot of the time then similar to Singapore F16s being based in Australia a lot of the time. Still can’t believe they bought more Rafale than Typhoon. Not that is matters.
F15 not F16
Singapore are getting a great jet in the f15s then. One of the best.
Yeah, it’s interesting that the US is now ordering more F15’s. It makes you wonder if the air frame equipped with the latest sensors, weapons and engines is a better option compared to the single engine F35 with limited range and payload.
Its pretty much a marriage of convenience,the US has worked out both types can compliment each other – the F35 being the Scalpel,the F15 being the Sledgehammer.
Yes as an insight to this I Read recently about Trumps early Dissection of the F35 when entering Office. It was actually an article on the role of the, about to leave his role ex military guy who represented Lockheed and how he tried to sell its qualities, capabilities and emphasised the ongoing improvements and cost savings to the programme taking place which Trump of course later went on to claim responsibility for. Fact is it stated there were only 4 States (a deliberate Lockheed tactic apparently) that did not contribute to the project and one of those suddenly was… Read more »
BB85 – Qatar will be spoilt for choice once it gets its F15’s,Rafale’s and Typhoons in service,hopefully the Typhoon will impress them enough they order some more.
I think had the Typhoon had the weapons fit and radar as standard that they will now be getting as effectively lead operator they might have (as perhaps others would have too) selected it as their preferred choice. Sadly its ability as an all round multi, or is it swing role aircraft, was delayed and potential held back by the Tornado being primed for that role by its two prime project leaders in the programme. It is now belatedly being fitted out for those roles a delay that in terms of sales is a big error as its turned out… Read more »
Hi Paul, I suspect many will remain in the hangar, it’s argued the triple purchase was about buying resilient diplomatic support.
But looks like they will operate the Typhoon – the best of the three types on order.
From 2023, 12 sqn will become a fully manned RAF Typhoon sqn stationed at Coningsby once the Qatari’s are set up at home. ?
I think the Boss’s office is the one on the end. Looks a bit sparse – but it’s well air conditioned!
Always sceptical of these quick built ‘modular’ buildings, my old ops HQ at Kinloss was like this, first storm came along, roof was gone in an hour!
Hi Jason
These Coningsby flight-line hangars are designed to Eurocodes. They won’t be going anywhere in a hurry.
For me nothing beats a HAS. These aircraft are expensive and should be protected properly. Unfortunately we are grouping our Fast Jet squadrons at bases with only 2 HAS complexes each, while others stand empty ( of aircraft at least ) at other stations.
I hope their is a lot more to this than these shelters which don’t even protect against cluster munitions.
Or dust storms7
Walls must be fitted for, but not with.
Not sure i see Qatar as a partner or ally. They fund the Muslim Brotherhood and are in bed with Iran, which explains why the other Gulf states have bad relations with Qatar. Not to mention they bamboozled everyone with hosting the FIFA world cup!
Need their money so the unpleasant connections are ignored.
Yes,it may be Filthy Lucre,but its Lucre at the end of the day,it helps sustain Typhoon Production for a bit longer.
You echo my comments above Rob. The RAF in the Cold War had comprehensive hardening at several stations. These are just like QRA sheds by the looks off them. You find the earthen banks around certain structures like ammunition storage bunkers and more comprehensive efforts in station ammunition compounds and in certain SSA that stored nukes. Some stations still have bunkers and CBR proof locations for crew, alongside the HAS for aircraft. HAS are still found at St Mawgan, Boscombe, Wattisham, Honington, Leeming, Leuchars, and current and ex USAF sites. In use sites are at the 3 current fast jet… Read more »
HAS sites where to protect aircraft from bombs, not the weather. As the gulf War proved, these HAS sites offer limited protection from a well aim LGB. Today, they are another expense to maintain, and no threat from anyone trying to bomb our airfields. Plus in winter, they are freezing ?? The new structures at Coningsby are the similar to the ones used in Basra, and are a familiar site across many USAF and other NATO airfields.
Even an ammunition or fuel accident could wreck a whole line of aircraft without explosive protection curtains. Needn’t be expensive, just a bulldozer creating earthen banks between aircraft bays.
Oh well, I suppose the RAF know what they are doing…
Procedures are in place, so such incidents don’t happen on the flight line.
This is how the americans ‘store’ their aircraft, F22’s at Langley are in the same shelters, only going indoors with hurricanes…but then they mostly re-locate anyway.
£35 million? BAE are off my gazebo supplier shortlist.
£35.2 million. Am I missing something?
It says 2780sq metre building. That photo just shows the aircraft shelters on the flight line, not the crew and admin bits. I guess?
Still seems like a standard rip off, mind.
£35.5 million for eight open plastic covered steel hangers? I’m sure there is a cheaper solution, unless it is more than eight hangers?
Article says 1500 tonnes of concrete and 1000 tonnes of steel. Those are the aircraft shelters.
Joking apart, I think the £35.5 million will be for offices and hangar space. Possibly engineering accommodation also. However, the article doesn’t make clear exactly what the money covers.
As for the shelter in the photo, we usually see these in the US and other hot countries, where they provide some cover from the sun. They also, of course, hide the numbers of aircraft from eyes in the sky.
But I can’t see what protection these shelters will provide against the British weather. It ain’t hot all the time here. Ah well… time for a glass or two…
The guy down the chip shop reckons he could build um for £10,000! We will have to wait and see just what that money has actually bought, but if it’s just eight covers that’s an awful lot of money for such a modest structure.
Has someone remembered the titanium screwdriver scam for the space shuttle and sent some discreet wonga to Big and Expensive for another programme? £35m for a building!
The left handed spanner for the A6 springs to mind – $600 each.