More building work as RAF Lossiemouth in Moray prepares to welcome its Wedgetails
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A Scottish business have been subcontracted to build new facilities at RAF Lossiemouth for the arrival of the UK E-7 Wedgetail fleet.
The three surveillance planes will be housed alongside the recently completed Atlantic Building, from which the UK’s fleet of nine Poseidon MRA Mk1 aircraft already operate.
The UK Government says the move will create 125 jobs in Moray, including seven new trainee positions in engineering and construction.
McLaughlin & Harvey Construction Limited from Glasgow have been subcontracted under a £83million deal awarded to Boeing Defence UK (BDUK) by the Ministry of Defence.
A new training facility will be built, as well as a second unit the size of an Olympic swimming pool where engineering work can be carried out on both the Poseidons and Wedgetails.
Alex Chalk, Minister for Defence Procurement, said: "Scotland has a proud history as home to some of our most critical defence assets, and this investment will enable the new fleet of cutting-edge E-7 aircraft to support that vital capability."
The E-7 Wedgetails will provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance for the RAF.
Capable of simultaneously tracking several airborne and maritime targets at once, the aircraft has previously been used by the Australian military during operations in Iraq and Syria.
Air Commodore Alex Hicks, who's in charge of the Wedgetail project for the RAF, said: "The contract signing for the construction of the UK Wedgetail operating facility is a significant achievement.
"The facility is a critical enabler for the Wedgetail capability, allowing the full potential of the aircraft to be realised."
The first Wedgetail is currently scheduled to arrive next year, marking a return to RAF Lossiemouth after an absence of 30 years for 8 Squadron who will operate the aircraft.
Moray's MP hailed as "tremendous news" today's announcement that the contract has been signed.
Douglas Ross said: "RAF Lossiemouth continues to play a key role in protecting the nation's security, especially in these turbulent times.
"Investing over £80 million at such a critical time is a major funding boost from the UK Government and only reaffirms how committed they are to bolstering defence operations in Moray.
"This investment at RAF Lossiemouth is absolutely tremendous news for the base and for the local economy right across Moray, especially as our communities continue to feel the effects of the cost-of-living crisis."
