First new Poseidon jet lands at RAF Lossiemouth

The first Poseidon submarine-hunting jet has landed at RAF Lossiemouth in Moray.
By Gareth Edwards
Published 13th Oct 2020, 20:24 BST
Updated 13th Oct 2020, 20:57 BST
Group Captain Chris Layden station commander (left) and Wing Commander James Hanson, in front of the first of the Poseidon MRA1 plane, intended for submarine-hunting and the tracking of maritime targets, to arrive at RAF Lossiemouth, MorayGroup Captain Chris Layden station commander (left) and Wing Commander James Hanson, in front of the first of the Poseidon MRA1 plane, intended for submarine-hunting and the tracking of maritime targets, to arrive at RAF Lossiemouth, Moray
Group Captain Chris Layden station commander (left) and Wing Commander James Hanson, in front of the first of the Poseidon MRA1 plane, intended for submarine-hunting and the tracking of maritime targets, to arrive at RAF Lossiemouth, Moray

The aircraft - named the City of Elgin - parked outside a new £132 million facility which houses the pilots, engineers and personnel who will operate the high-tech submarine hunters.

Nine Poseidon MRA1 aircraft have been ordered, the first of which landed on UK soil for the first time in February 2020. Since then, crews have been securing the seas on operational missions.

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Group Captain Chris Layden, station commander of RAF Lossiemouth, said: "Today is a proud moment for Team Lossie, ushering in a new era for the station delivering combat airpower and maritime patrol operations over and around the United Kingdom.

Crew disembark and greet their colleagues with an "elbow bump" at the bottom of the steps.Crew disembark and greet their colleagues with an "elbow bump" at the bottom of the steps.
Crew disembark and greet their colleagues with an "elbow bump" at the bottom of the steps.

"Yesterday I had the privilege of landing the first Typhoon on our newly resurfaced runways, and today I had the pleasure of welcoming in the first Poseidon to its permanent home in Moray.

"This is just the beginning of our expansion and modernisation as one of the RAF's most strategically important stations in the United Kingdom."

Poseidon is a submarine hunter which can locate, identify and track potentially hostile vessels as they operate close to UK waters.

Its radar is also able to detect and track ships above the waves.

Group Captain Chris Layden, station commander, in front of the first of the Poseidon MRA1 plane at RAF Lossiemouth.Group Captain Chris Layden, station commander, in front of the first of the Poseidon MRA1 plane at RAF Lossiemouth.
Group Captain Chris Layden, station commander, in front of the first of the Poseidon MRA1 plane at RAF Lossiemouth.

A total of 54 squadron members have been training new pilots and weapons systems operators on the platform, as 400 additional military personnel will be moving to Moray to fly and operate the aircraft.

All Typhoon and Poseidon operations are to be back at their permanent home at Lossiemouth on Friday.

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Related topics:RAF LossiemouthMorayRAF