Spy planes forced to wait in wings for new runway
THEY are state-of-the-art submarine hunters, designed to keep the UK’s coasts free from foreign snooper incursions.
But the RAF’s nine new P-8A Poseidon spy planes – which cost a total of £3billlion – will not be able to fly from their headquarters as there is no suitable runway at the base.
It emerged yesterday that the fleet will be relocated from its Lossiemouth HQ in Moray to RAF Kinloss, ten miles away, while a new runway is built.
The planes are due for delivery in February 2020 but will not take off from their new home at Lossiemouth until the following year.
The contract for remedial work at the base was handed out only in October, despite the spy planes being commissioned more than four years ago.
The MoD has admitted that the completion date for the Lossiemouth work has been pushed back from 2020 to 2021.
A spokesman said: ‘Essential runway refurbishment is planned at RAF Lossiemouth to accommodate the P-8As and an additional Typhoon Squadron.
‘During the programme’s assessment phase, it was identified that the P-8A parking area also required some remedial work. The refurbishment timing has therefore been adjusted to combine the upgrades and ensure it remains affordable.
‘The plan has always been for these aircraft to operate from Kinloss during the refurbishment.’
Engineering firm Mott MacDonald secured the design contract for the resurfacing of the runways at RAF Lossiemouth in October.
The firm will provide support services throughout the detailed design, construction, testing and commissioning phases of the base’s upgrade.
The scope of works includes the renewal of the main and secondary runways, the construction of a new aircraft servicing platform for the P-8As and associated infrastructure.
RAF Lossiemouth is home to four fast-jet squadrons flying the Typhoon, but it has been some time since the base has had to cope regularly with larger aircraft such as the P-8A Poseidon.
Resurfacing works are one of many improvements being made to ‘future-proof’ the Moray base for years to come.
This project forms part of the £500million RAF Lossiemouth Development Programme.
The expansion project is under way at the base, where during a visit earlier this year former defence secretary Gavin Williamson described an ‘increasing’ threat from Russia.
The P-8A Poseidon spy planes will join the fight to track foreign submarines on exercises in the North Atlantic.
The squadron will also be armed with anti-submarine torpedoes used for launching search and rescue operations.