Consideration is being given to retaining Leuchars as an RAF base well beyond the end of 2013, it has been claimed.
It is suggested that an ongoing review of the UK’s fast jet force has found there would not be enough capacity in remaining air force bases if the Fife site converted to an army base as planned.
Contrary to the previous consensus that the RAF will have five front-line Typhoon squadrons, speculation is growing within military press circles that the RAF may now be looking to eventually have six, or possibly even seven.
It has been suggested that, particularly if seven squadrons form, the current plan of two Typhoon bases, Coningsby and Leuchars with Lossiemouth taking over from Leuchars in 2013 will not give sufficient base capacity, and that a third base will be needed.
It’s also being speculated that perhaps a previous Tornado base, maybe Leeming or Cottesmore, might need to be reactivated, and that the Tornado GR4 may now see out its life until 2019 at RAF Lossiemouth making it all but impractical for Leuchars Typhoon jets to be relocated there at an estimated cost of £100 million.
As the Ministry of Defence confirmed its ongoing basing review had not yet been completed and no decision would be announced until the end of the year, an RAF Leuchars spokesman confirmed the Fife base was still operating on the basis of the announcement made by the Defence Secretary in July 2011.
That is that Leuchars would remain as a flying station to the end of 2013, would go through a ”transition” phase by the end of 2014, with the first army units due to arrive in 2015.
The latest speculation about RAF Leuchars is rooted in the October edition of respected international military magazine Combat Aircraft, which explores how the UK fast jet force has taken a serious hit over recent years as a succession of squadrons has disbanded.
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However, with the standing up of No 1 (F) Squadron at RAF Leuchars on airshow day, it suggests overall RAF plans are now becoming clearer.
The article states:”Having gone down to a five-squadron Typhoon plan, Coningsby and Leuchars/Lossiemouth offered a suitable solution. However, seven Typhoon squadrons may raise the need for a third Typhoon station. This could involve retaining Leuchars past 2013 or maybe even reactivating Leeming or Cottesmore as fighter stations.
”Moreover, the need to prepare Marham for the F-35B would suggest that the Tornado GR4 community would be better suited to seeing out its days at Lossiemouth, but Marham remains the home of the Tornado depth maintenance and upgrade facility run by BAE Systems and was planned as the last home of the GR4. Clearly, there are still some difficult decisions to be made, and a lot of changes are still to come, with a host of capabilities waiting to be established. Interesting times lie ahead for the UK fast jet community.”
Earlier this year, The Courier revealed that no money had been spent preparing for the relocation of Leuchars’ Typhoon jets to Lossiemouth and not a penny had been spent preparing for the army’s arrival at Leuchars.
With the RAF’s oldest squadron, No 1 (F) Squadron, officially stood up at RAF Leuchars at the airshow on September 15, the RAF is now up to four front-line Typhoon units, with two of them 1(F) Squadron and 6 Squadron based at Leuchars.
Last night, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defence told The Courier:”No decision has yet been made. A footprint study is being carried out looking at all bases. It is our intention that an announcement will be made by the end of the year. Anything else at this stage is speculation.”
However, North East Fife MP Sir Menzies Campbell MP said the speculation underlined why there was still all to play for over the future of RAF Leuchars.
He said:” Every day that passes reinforces the case for the retention of RAF Leuchars as a front-line airbase. The strategic argument in its favour has never been undermined and the financial arguments are increasingly persuasive.
“I shall continue to make the case for Leuchars at every opportunity both in the House of Commons and outside.”