On the 17th of November Air Officer Commanding 2 Group, Air Vice Marshal Marshall, confirmed the renaming of Battlespace Management Operations to the Air Command and Control Force. In addition, Battlespace Management Engineering Wing has now become 144 Signals Unit.
The Air Command and Control Force (formerly Battlespace Management Operations) has been renamed to better represent the range of capabilities of the units under its command; it encompasses 19 Sqn, 20 Sqn, 78 Sqn and 144SU. The Air Command and Control Force watches over the skies 24/7 in the UK, in NATO airspace, and in other locations abroad.
On the renaming of Air Command and Control Force, Commander Air Command and Control Force, Group Captain Booth, said:
The Air Command and Control Force name rightly encapsulates the work that 19, 20, 78 Squadrons and 144 Signals Unit conduct 24/7. The renaming forms part of our modernisation which, when combined with our Air Command and Control capability experimentation & TTP development will ensure we are ready for the challenges ahead and configured to deliver the TACON Air Command and Control for ACE.
144 SU was formed in 1951 at RAF Bawdsey (1953-1958), 144 SU has also been stationed at RAF Wattisham and finally at RAF Ty Croes for its most recent period of service between 1991 and 1995.
The 144SU motto, added when the unit relocated to RAF Ty Croes, written in the Welsh Language is ‘‘Gwyliwch Yr Awyr’ and translates as the command, ‘Watch the Sky’.
144SU now provides the cyberspace engineering support and expertise to the UK’s Air Surveillance and Control System, and Deployable Air Defence and Air Traffic Management capabilities.
On allocation of the 144 SU numberplate, Officer Commanding 144SU, Wing Commander Kirk, said:
It is a genuine honour to command the newly rebadged 144 Signals Unit, with the long rich history the unit has in supporting and enabling UK Air Defence. Alongside 19, 20 and 78 Squadrons, the Cyberspace Engineering professionals of 144SU now have an identity and heritage to be proud of whilst watching the sky.
