Our Mission

Support current Operations, including UK QRA(I)N, whilst maximising Typhoon Force growth.

Our Station Priorities

The delivery of the Northern element of Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) is RAF Leuchars’ first priority and requires Typhoon aircraft to hold high alert to scramble and intercept unidentified aircraftapproaching UK airspace and counter any airborne terrorist threat. Successful delivery of this operational task requires contributions from many sections across RAF Leuchars and is testament to the team ethos and efforts of all personnel involved. If ultimately necessary, fighter aircraft from RAF Leuchars can be overhead Edinburgh or Glasgow in a matter of minutes.

In addition to delivering QRA at home, RAF Leuchars also supports military operations abroad. Between 5-10% of our capable, agile and adaptable men and women are engaged in operations and deployments in the Middle East, Afghanistan and the Falkland Islands at any one time. The excellent contribution of RAF Leuchars personnel, at home and abroad, provides critical support to the delivery of the RAF and Defence’s operational tasks.

Right now, British Forces are taking the fight to the Taliban in southern Afghanistan, facing down the insurgency, protecting the Afghan people and laying the conditions that will contribute to stabilisation efforts. NATO Air Power provides a crucial military advantage that the International Security Assistance Force and Afghan National Security Forces have over the Taliban, primarily providing rapid deployment, imagery and intelligence, re-supply and, where necessary, precision munitions in support of the troops on the ground, in order to enable them to provide security such that improvements in governance, stability and development can occur.

No 6 RAF Force Protection Wing consists of the HQ at RAF Leuchars, 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron RAuxAF based in Edinburgh, the Force Protection Training Flight based at RAF Leuchars and 58 Sqn RAF Regiment which stood up at RAF Leuchars on 1 April 2010. 6 FP Wg deployed to Afghanistan with its sub-units in April 2011 to coordinate and deliver the defence of one of NATO’s airbases from in-direct fires and ground attack.

British Forces are playing a full part in implementing United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1973, which authorises all necessary measures to protect the civilian population in Libya. Currently, RAF Typhoon and Tornado aircraft are based at Gioia del Colle in southern Italy in support of the UK’s contribution to the NATO-controlled No Fly Zone. RAF Leuchars personnel, including pilots from No 6 Sqn have deployed to provide vital support to Operation ELLAMY. NATO’s mission is to protect civilians and military action has saved thousands of innocent lives. Air Power has created the necessary time for Global Diplomatic, Political and Economic efforts to support Libya in its journey to become a free and democratic state.

Typhoon growth is RAF Leuchars’ Main Effort. On 6 September 2010, RAF Leuchars became the second Typhoon Main Operating Base when No 6 Sqn, the first of 3 sqns planned to be based at RAF Leuchars, stood up with its world-class multi-role Typhoon aircraft. 6 Sqn is responsible for the QRA operational task at RAF Leuchars, following the Tornado F3’s departure from RAF Service on 31 March 2011. In the longer term, Typhoon will be capable of delivering the full spectrum of capabilities to support the RAF and Defence’s operational tasks both at home and abroad for decades to come, including protecting our troops on the ground.

Information Transformation (including the implementation of new state-of-the-art IT systems) is one of RAF Leuchars’ highest priorities and a major change programme. Reliable, secure communications are a key tenet of successful military operations. RAF Leuchars is undergoing the complex and challenging transformation to link its IT with the advanced systems already being used by higher headquarters and the MoD. The process requires the replacement of the Station’s IT architecture and hardware as well as the adoption of new working practises.

It is a privilege for RAF Leuchars to host the only remaining Battle of Britain Airshow, and 2^nd largest non-sporting outdoor event, in Scotland. The Airshow provides an opportunity for RAF Leuchars to celebrate the RAF at its best, showcasing its wide-range of roles and highlighting its rich heritage; it is also an important opportunity for the Station to welcome its neighbours throughout Scotland (and beyond) onto the base and to thank them for their support throughout the year. The Airshow is a vehicle through which RAF Leuchars increases the public’s understanding of the RAF: its roles, capabilities and its people. The Airshow is not funded by the taxpayer; additional revenue raised is donated to the RAF Benevolent Fund, Royal Air Force Association and local charities. In recent years we have hosted crowds, in excess of 50,000 people.

Other RAF Leuchars Units

The RAF Leuchars Mountain Rescue Team’s (MRT) role is to provide search and rescue for those who find themselves in trouble in the mountains and remote areas of Scotland. In 2010, the MRT responded to 14 emergency callouts, rescuing people in difficulty, both civilian and military.

In the event of national or local adversity, RAF Leuchars, if directed by the Government, can support the emergency services and local authorities by providing Military Aid to the Civil Authorities; we are capable of reaching out to most of the Central Belt and the population of Scotland within two hours once mobilized.

71 Engineer Regiment (V) provides Combat Engineers for military operations both at home and abroad. Territorial soldiers represent 10% of troops currently supporting operations in Afghanistan and the Regiment continues to provide trained and motivated reserve soldiers to fulfill this requirement. They are the only Royal Engineer Regiment in Scotland with the Regimental headquarters at RAF Leuchars. The Regiment trains in varied roles, including bridge construction, explosive demolitions, mine clearance and airfield damage repair. Territorial personnel from 71 Engineer Regiment (V) will deploy on Operation Herrick 15 in 2011.

Personnel from 612 (County of Aberdeen) Sqn RAuxAF, the Air Transportable Surgical Sqn, based at RAF Leuchars, deployed to Afghanistan in April 2010 to support the field hospital at Camp Bastion, a critical role in support of the UK Armed Forces’ operational tasks. 12 personnel from the Sqn were awarded their Operational Service Medals in a ceremony at the end of October 2010. Reserves play a vital role in operations at home and abroad; we are grateful to them and their employers for their contribution to the security of the UK.

RAF Leuchars supports Scotland’s 2 University Air Sqns. The East of Scotland Universities’ Air Squadron (ESUAS) is based at RAF Leuchars and comprises over 90 students from Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee and St Andrews. The Universities’ of Glasgow and Strathclyde Air Sqn (UGSAS) has 59 students from 5 universities across Glasgow and Stirling and is the only University Air Sqn to be based at a civilian airport (Glasgow International). Both sqns provide significant opportunities for personal development, adventure training, charitable activities and sport, whilst individuals study for their degrees. Regardless of whether these students join the RAF, we are confident that they go on to be better citizens for their experience with the RAF.

There are over 2,700 Air Training Corps (ATC) cadets in 120 sqns across Scotland, with RAF Leuchars being home to the Regional HQ. Whether or not these boys and girls go on to join the RAF does not matter. We firmly believe that society benefits from the experiences that young men and women have within the cadets; to fly, develop skills to lead expeditions, tour foreign countries, become target marksmen, join a band and learn about aviation and aerospace.

Community

RAF Leuchars has strong links with the local community in Fife and across Scotland. It supports the military and local communities through extensive opportunities, including day-care provision, child and youth groups, Station Sports events and the youth activity project area (multi-use games area and skatepark). A purpose-built community centre opened at RAF Leuchars in October 2010. This facility will ensure the highest standard of support to all these activities and more.

There is also an active RAF Leuchars Charity Volunteer Group (CVG) which raises around £20,000 a year for National, Scottish and local charities. Of these very good causes, RAF Leuchars is highly supportive of the RAF Benevolent Fund but also raises funds for: Erskine (homes for disabled ex-serviceman and women), Royal Air Force Association, SNAIL (Special Needs Awareness In Leuchars) and CHAS (Children’s Hospice Association in Scotland). It also organises the extra special children’s Christmas party, which comprises around 125 children from the local community.

The Stn is committed to the environment; RAF Leuchars is located alongside the Eden estuary which is a haven for visitors such as the osprey, peregrine, grebe, heron and swallow to name but a few. Close liaison with the Fife Ranger Service and a very active Station Conservation Group ensures that the aircraft and wildlife live and work together. Furthermore, the Stn Energy Manager and Station Environmental Protection Adviser work very hard to monitor and reduce energy usage where possible at RAF Leuchars.

The Station Commander is also the Air Officer for Scotland, the titular head of the RAF in Scotland, representing the RAF to the government, media and people of Scotland.

RAF Leuchars is in a unique geographical position with 80% of Scotland’s population within 80 miles.

Future of RAF Leuchars

Securing control of the air remains the RAF’s paramount duty. In the context of the defence of the United Kingdom, that includes air policing of all unidentified aircraft and the timely intercept of any terrorist-controlled civilian aircraft targeted against our major cities or vulnerable infrastructure in a 9/11-type scenario. UK Air Defence is provided by squadrons operating from RAF Coningsby in England and here at RAF Leuchars in Scotland. Our principal responsibility is to ensure that, if ultimately necessary, RAF fighter aircraft can be launched at the right time, to the right place to protect the cities and their populations; this continues to be the RAF’s most critical duty.

Mission Statement for the Royal Air Force

An agile, adaptable and capable Air Force, that person for person, is second to none, and that makes a decisive air power contribution in support of the UK Defence Mission.