New fleet agreed as RAF Leuchars' future secured

Published on Saturday 2 August 2008 19:51

THE HEAD of an RAF base yesterday said its future has been secured for the next 40 years.

RAF Leuchars station commander, Air Commodore Clive Bairsto, also said that up to 100m will be invested in the Fife base over the next decade.

The move will secure the future of about 1,500 air force personnel at the base, as well as 200 civilian staff and associated contractors.

The base, along with Coningsby, will accommodate the RAF's new Eurofighter Typhoon fleet. Air Commodore Bairsto said that three squadrons are to move to Fife, with 16 to 18 pilots a squadron.

"This is very good news for north-east Fife, and for RAF Leuchars," he said. "Leuchars will continue to operate as a fighter base for the next four decades up to 2050."

The Tornado is scheduled to go out of service in March 2011, but will start to be replaced by the Typhoon in September 2010. About 80m-100m will be spent on rebuilding the station for the new aircraft platform.