IN what could be a boost for remote Scottish airports the Royal Air Force has deployed Typhoon jets and 60 service personnel to Stornoway airport on the Isle of Lewis to test whether such airports could become RAF back-up bases.

Along with a giant Atlas A400M transporter from RAF Brize Norton, the Typhoons from RAF Lossiemouth are taking part in what the force calls “a major exercise” to develop the Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concept.

Known as Exercise Agile Pirate, in a statement the RAF said:”ACE is a new concept, which aims to enable the Royal Air Force to operate from a greater number of locations, to provide increased flexibility and resilience.

“It is being developed and implemented using a series of exercises over the next three years.

“The RAF have chosen to use Stornoway as a location due to its relative remoteness which, in turn, has forced the deploying elements to consider air transportable options, this removes the easy solutions that simply deploying from known main operating bases provide. Although currently local to the UK and utilising RAF assets, Agile Combat Exercises will grow to support USAFE Force Elements and those of NATO and Joint Expeditionary Force partners.

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“A Headquarters from 138 Expeditionary Air Wing based at RAF Marham will command the deployment made up of specialists in personnel preparation and admin, tactical refuelling teams, armaments experts, logisticians, Force Protection and, not least, civilian co-operation and support from Stornoway Airport.

“The exercise is designed to test a fundamental question: what is the minimum footprint of people and kit and processes required to successfully deploy and sustain aircraft to a temporary location at short notice.”

Squadron Leader Astle of the Exercise Planning Team said: “The next few days will test our ability with the minimum footprint of people and kit to receive, debrief, re-arm, refuel and rebrief a Combat Air capability. In short bursts of activity, we will use an A400M to bring in kit and also directly refuel our in-situ fuel bowser to support the Typhoon – an activity delivered by 1 Expeditionary Logistics Squadron from RAF Wittering.

“At the same time, 6 Sqn engineers will service and simulate re-arming the aircraft while the crews take advantage of our deployed comms capability to debrief and rebrief prior to re-launching.

“All of this under the watchful eye of a deployed team from 34 Sqn RAF Regt and other security specialists providing an enclave protection and counter-intruder capability.”

Stornoway Airport is no stranger to the RAF as it was once their airfield.