The Minister for the Armed Forces (Nick Harvey)
I wish to inform the House of the outcome of the review regarding the future basing requirements for the Royal Air Force (RAF) acrobatic team (RAFAT) known as the Red Arrows and of the RAF’s air surveillance and control system (ASACS).
The RAF had planned to relocate ASACS infrastructure, as part of wider force restructuring, from RAF Scampton in advance of the 2014 drawdown date of the station. However, we have now identified that, due to cost and capability grounds, the ASACS infrastructure should remain at RAF Scampton, with any future decisions on its basing examined as part of other projects. Additionally, the most effective way of operating RAFAT without impacting on other flying is to stay at RAF Scampton. This means that both RAFAT and the ASACS unit will be retained at the station until at least the end of the decade.
This decision does necessitate scheduled maintenance to resurface the RAF Scampton runway and this will commence later this year.