Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smyth, provides an update on progress with the runway overhaul, a major investment that will help ensure Royal Air Force Brize Norton remains ready to meet operational demands now and into the future.
TRANSCRIPT:
Please note that this transcript is automatically generated, and may have some errors. The original audio is the authoritative wording.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smyth: RAF Brize Norton is at the very heart of the Royal Air Force's ability to operate all around the world, whether we're supporting operations, responding to crisis, or working alongside our NATO allies, Brize enables us to move people, we move equipment, we move capability wherever they're needed, right across the globe, and that's why it's so incredibly important that we continue to invest in the infrastructure that underpins our operational effectiveness. And that's why I'm here today at Brize to see all of this work that's going on.
This major project will modernise the airfield's runway, the taxiways, the lighting systems, and it'll ensure that Brize Norton remains safe, resilient, and ready to support defence ops well into the future.
War fighting readiness starts long before an aircraft leaves the ground, and this investment that we're seeing play out behind me will ensure the infrastructure enables operations and that we're fit for the demands of the future.
Capability is not just about the aircraft that we fly, it's also about the people, it's about the infrastructure and the partnerships that make those ops possible, and working together across Air Command, DIO and industry, we're investing in the very foundations of air power and ensuring that this critical national capability remains ready when the nation needs it. RAF Brize Norton has always played a vital role in defence.
This project will help ensure it continues to do so for decades to come. And it's been an absolute privilege to be here today meeting with the team, and particularly the contractors from VolckerFitzpatrick. They have been phenomenal partners through this work, um, and I'm incredibly grateful for that.
We have another 6 to 12 months work ahead of us, but so far, so good, and thanks to everybody that's involved.
Photographer: Okay, look at the camera this way... Beautiful!
[Ends]
