An introduction and warm welcome from the Station Commander

‘Introduction and welcome address from the Station Commander’…………

It is a privilege to command RAF Spadeadam, which is a station with a unique role, interesting pedigree and diverse customer base. Originally built for the Blue Streak Missile programme in the late 1950’s, the station evolved into an Electronic Warfare Tactics Range in the 1970’s and continues to adapt and diversify, currently providing a training and trails environment for numerous operational capabilities such as Time Sensitive Targeting, Close Air Support via Forward Air Controllers, Combat ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance), Air-Land Integration, Counter IED (Improvised Explosive Device), Airborne Platform Protection, Electronic Defence and Change Detection. Within Spadeadam’s relatively large geographic area, airborne platforms can be challenged in a complex threat environment with operational scenarios, mobile systems, realistic target sets and practice rockets, which simulate missile launches. All of this is aimed at replicating the dangerous and unpredictable nature of modern warfare within Spadeadam’s airspace, however threat systems can be deployed away from the station and mobile threat teams regularly attend exercises all over the UK and can sometimes pop up abroad to keep aircrews on their toes! Computerised debrief systems and tracking devices help to reconstruct each threat engagement, which provides invaluable feedback to the training audiences when reviewed later.

As a relatively isolated unit in a rural setting, RAF Spadeadam has a proud history of cohesion, camaraderie and proactive teamwork amongst the mix of civilian and military personnel on base. We also maintain close links with the wider community which pays dividends in daily operations but especially in times of crisis, such as the Cockermouth floods in 2009 when the station mobilised to assist. It goes without saying that I am very proud of the 90 military and 90 civilian personnel under my command and we will continue to provide an exemplary operational training facility despite the well-publicised financial constraints currently facing the Services.

Wing Commander G J Davis

Commanding Officer

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