Overview

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The Station

78 Squadron, Swanwick forms one part of the Air Command and Control Force, within Global Enablement, No.2 Group. It is embedded within the London Area Control Centre run by NATS. The Squadron is made up of many critical Air Traffic, Airspace Management and Air Defence sections.

The area control team support military and civilian flights throughout the UK Flight Information Region (FIR), with Northolt Radar supporting the terminal Air Traffic Control (ATC) task of RAF Northolt.

Distress and Diversion Cell is an emergency centre ready to assist aircraft in distress around the whole of the UK FIR, while also providing vital other supporting functions.

The Military Airspace Management Cell manage the UK Low Flying System and the segregation of large areas of airspace for military training.

The Radar Analysis Cell work closely with the UK Airprox Board to provide radar data for investigations.

The Resilience Entity provides air defence support to its sister squadron (19) at RAF Boulmer.

Finally, 144 Signals Unit provide underpinning engineering support to certain elements of Squadron output.

Nobody unprepared

Connect with Swanwick (78 Squadron)

Commander

Wing Commander Alexa Smyth

Wing Commander Smyth commissioned into the RAF in 2000 as an Air Traffic Control officer, serving at RAF Lyneham, RAF(U) Swanwick and RAF Odiham, with operational deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. She has held roles in regulation, safety and operations, including command of MOD Boscombe Down Air Traffic Control and 902 Expeditionary Air Wing. Promoted in 2020, she has led high-profile defence programmes and worked in MOD Counter Terrorism and UK Operations, assuming command of 78 Squadron in February 2026.

 

Who's based here

Squadrons

78 Squadron

Units

To facilitate unrestricted military training, large areas of airspace are segregated from other users as required. It is the responsibility of the Military Airspace Booking and Co-ordination Cell to ensure that the airspace is effectively utilised by military and civil flights.

The Distress and Diversion Cell (D&D) is the emergency centre of 78 Squadron based at the London Area Control Centre near Southampton. The primary role of the D&D staff is to provide pilots with an emergency aid and position fixing service. 

Almost instantaneous aircraft position fixing is available to D&D staff on 121.500MHz and 243.00MHz over most of the UK land-mass above 3000ft and down to 2000ft in the vicinity of the London Airports. This emergency service is available continuously to pilots flying within UK airspace who are in distress, in urgent need of assistance, or who are experiencing difficulties which could lead to a state of emergency.

D&D is also responsible for activating Temporary Danger Areas in order to provide a level of protection to Search and Rescue helicopters at the scene of an incident. 

The Radar Analysis Cell (RAC) conducts tracing action on behalf of the UK Airprox Board (UKAB) and uses a variety of measures to identify the aircraft and pilot involved. The UKAB exists to promote Flight Safety by determining the causes of all Airprox in UK airspace and promulgating the lessons identified.

Agencies tasking the RAC include the UKAB, Defence Flying Complaints Investigation Team, military HQs and airfields, HM Revenue and Customs/UK Border Agency, UK Special Branch units, QinetiQ and the CAA. The tasking linked to these agencies include any combination of Military or Civil Airprox, noise complaints, unauthorised supersonic flights, airspace breaches, financial claims relating to military flying activities, aircraft suspected of involvement in criminal activities, military aircraft accidents, flight statistics linked to Freedom Of Information requests and flight trials involving military aircraft.

History

There were three main military area radar units in the United Kingdom; RAF Sopley, RAF Lindholme and RAF Watton. In 1959, area radar control was introduced to RAF Sopley. During 1960s and 1970s both civil and military controllers worked there being known as the Southern Radar.

Also in the late 1950s, RAF Lindholme became the home of the Northern Radar. It provided radar services across the country using its Type 82 radar as well as links to other military radar heads.

In the mid 1960s RAF Watton became the home of Eastern & Border radar. Eastern radar operated between 1965-1988 and Border radar operated between 1989-1992.

In 1966 the London Air Traffic Control Centre opened in West Drayton and was the area radar hub for many years.

2002 saw civilian area radar units move to Swanwick whilst the military and terminal control centres remained at West Drayton. It wasn’t until 2007 / 2008 that all radar units were located at Swanwick along with the Distress and Diversion Cell.

Northern radar, initially at Lindholme, moved to RAF Prestwick in Scotland until December 2013 when the military controllers all co-located to Swanwick. North civilian counterparts remain at Prestwick.

Key dates

2002   NATS completed at Swanwick leading to the initial transfer of some civilian and military area radar control from West Drayton to Swanwick.

2007 - 2008   The remaining control functions, both civilian and military, moved to Swanwick, after which the West Drayton site was sold.

2011   Northolt Radar was transferred to Swanwick.

2012   The unit controlled the restricted airspace over London for the 2012 Olympics.

2013   All military area radar control moved to Swanwick following the closure of RAF Prestwick.

2021   RAF (U) Swanwick renamed to 78 Squadron.

2024   78 Squadron received its ceremonial Standard.