Forty aircraft operating from alternative locations, hundreds of personnel working across the UK, and the RAF's Air Mobility Force continuing to deliver around the clock.
RAF Brize Norton's runway is undergoing its major resurfacing programme, requiring aircraft, engineers, operations teams and support personnel to disperse across a network of airfields while flying operations continue elsewhere.
The undertaking, known as Project MACE (Mobility Agile Combat Employment), is enabling essential infrastructure work while also providing an opportunity to test how the Air Mobility Force can operate from multiple locations.
We sat down with Group Captain Andy McIntyre, Commander Air Wing, for an update on progress and the lessons already being learned.
Keeping Air Mobility moving
"Project MACE is all driven by the 20-year refurbishment, resurfacing of the Brize runway," Group Captain McIntyre explained. With the runway not available, we've had to continue operations by dispersing our fleets across other locations."
Prestwick Airport and Boscombe Down are among the principal operating locations, while East Midlands, Stansted and Bournemouth Airports are also supporting activity.
For the Air Mobility Force, however, the challenge extends far beyond relocating aircraft.
"The Air Mobility Force runs about 20 concurrent lines of activity at any given time. That's 24/7 global standby, activity, training. It's a huge endeavour."
Group Captain Andy McIntyre
Commander Air Wing
Despite the runway closure, that activity has continued uninterrupted.
Runway works remain on track
While operations continue elsewhere, significant engineering work is underway at RAF Brize Norton.
The runway is being resurfaced as part of its planned 20-year infrastructure cycle, with existing material removed before reconstruction begins.
By the end of August, much of the aggregate had been removed and work had moved into the reconstruction phase.
The force dispersed ahead of schedule, allowing contractors to begin work on time, while favourable weather throughout July and August has supported progress.
More than an infrastructure project
Although MACE was created to enable runway works, it has also provided a practical test of Agile Combat Employment (ACE), the RAF's ability to operate from dispersed locations rather than relying solely on established main operating bases.
The experience has focused attention on how the Air Mobility Force can continue generating operational output while working under pressure and from multiple locations.
The move has also strengthened relationships with partner airfields supporting the operation.
Personnel accustomed to operating from RAF Brize Norton have adapted to new infrastructure, processes and operating environments, while host airfields have gained a better understanding of Air Mobility requirements.
The people behind MACE
The Air Wing numbers around 1,600 personnel, with engineers, operations staff, movements specialists, medics, contractors and civilian partners all contributing to the effort.
One of the biggest challenges has been translating processes that normally happen instinctively at RAF Brize Norton into systems that work across multiple locations.
For Group Captain McIntyre, one measure of success is how little disruption others have noticed.
Activities normally coordinated from a single location are now being delivered across multiple sites seamlessly while aircraft and crews continue supporting Defence commitments worldwide.
The project has required new command-and-control arrangements, new relationships and new ways of working, while maintaining the same standards of safety and operational effectiveness.
Looking ahead
Project MACE has demonstrated that the Air Mobility Force can continue delivering global operations even when separated from its home runway.
Perhaps most significantly, the project has demonstrated the adaptability of the people delivering Air Mobility operations every day.
"It's down to every individual and the way that every individual has worked together as one whole team. I'm hugely grateful to everyone for that."
Group Captain Andy McIntyre
Commander Air Wing
For the Air Mobility Force, Project MACE is proving that even when its home runway closes, the mission continues.
