Photo credit: Mark Harkin
A £75 million contract has been awarded to VolkerFitzpatrick to prepare RAF Lossiemouth’s runways for the arrival of nine Boeing P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft.
The contract, awarded by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), is part of a £400 million pledge to modernise the Moray base with an estimated 550 jobs being created in the process.
It is anticipated that VolkerFitzpatrick will complete the resurfacing of the runways by Spring of 2021, allowing for larger aircrafts to be used in Lossiemouth.
Russ Liddington, DIO’s project manager for the resurfacing works, said, “It’s exciting to be part of the start of a new era for RAF Lossiemouth.
“The improvements to the runways will make them suitable for use by the new Maritime Patrol Aircraft, and continue to enable Typhoon operations which are essential to the UK’s Defence capabilities.
“It represents a significant investment in Scotland and secures the future of RAF Lossiemouth status as a main Operating Base.”
Richard Offord, managing director of VolkerFitzpatrick, added, “We are delighted to have been awarded this key contract at RAF Lossiemouth, which will benefit from our significant in-house airfield and infrastructure capabilities. We look forward to collaborating with the DIO on these important works, over the coming months.”
Future projects will see new accommodation built for personnel at the base, a new aircraft control tower constructed, upgrades to drainage and electrical supplies and upgraded facilities for the IX Squadron – which moved to Lossiemouth earlier this year.
Group captain, Simon Strasdin, director of the Lossiemouth development programme, said, “Resurfacing our airfield operating surfaces represents the next stage towards operating the fleet of P-8A Poseidon from RAF Lossiemouth, and I am glad to welcome VolkerFitzpatrick Ltd onto the team which will help to deliver it.”
Jim Walls, Station Commander RAF Lossiemouth, added, “Already delivering on operations in the UK and around the world, RAF Lossiemouth is only to get busier in the coming months and years. At this very moment, live-armed Typhoons are on standby as part of our Quick Reaction Alert commitment, ready to scramble against airborne threats the UK faces.
“The P-8A Poseidon aircraft and its crews will also be operating 24/7 to safeguard our seas. Poseidon is world-class in its roles of maritime surveillance and submarine hunting, and crews from our NATO allies including the United States and Norway will operate the platform from Moray, strengthening the collective security of the Alliance.”
