The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Typhoons to make a brief return to Leuchars.
MSP calls for runway to be maintained as fighters prepare for six-week stay in Fife
The familiar thunderous roar of Typhoon aircraft will return to the skies above Leuchars next year.
The fighter jets will make a temporary comeback to Leuchars Station, five years after their departure.
Refurbishment of the runway at RAF Lossiemouth, where the aircraft were relocated, will see operations shipped out.
For up to six weeks during summer 2019 the Quick Reaction Alert (North) capability will return to the Fife station which is now an army base.
North East Fife MSP Willie Rennie said: “This is good news for Leuchars and shows how valuable the runway is for the armed forces.
“This surely makes the case for the runway to be maintained for the longterm benefit of the RAF.
“The rumours about the closure of the runway should be addressed with a clear commitment for the future.”
Minister of State for Armed Forces Mark Lancaster said runway refurbishment was required at Lossiemouth to ensure the airfield could continue to sustain flying operations.
He said Typhoon operations would be relocated for up to six weeks, with Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) at Leuchars and other flying operations at Kinloss airfield.
RAF Leuchars was armed with the multi-role Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet in 2010, replacing the Tornado F3.
It was the home of QRA (North), a force of armed and ready aircraft and suited and booted pilots prepared to take to the skies in defence of the UK at a moment’s notice.
However, it was announced in 2011 that the station would close following the UK government’s strategic defence and security review.
The station was handed over to the army in 2015 with its airfield maintained as a relief landing ground for Lossiemouth planes and other aircraft.