Terrorist threat could see RAF Leuchars spared
With a terrorist attack on UK soil still deemed to be "highly likely", The Courier understands the proximity of RAF Leuchars to some of the nation's most sensitive potential targets could be enough to save it from the chop.
A Typhoon from 6 Squadron at RAF Leuchars.
The ability of the Fife base to quickly intercept any 9/11-type airborne terrorist attacks could be key to securing the base's future. Fast jets could, for example, be at Grangemouth oil refinery in a matter of seconds. Typhoons from Leuchars could reach the Torness nuclear power station in under one and half minutes.
With RAF Lossiemouth in Moray also under threat, senior officials are thought to be attaching great significance to Leuchars' geographical advantage.
An announcement on which base faces the axe has been promised by July 19 at the latest.
While campaigners insist both Scottish bases should be saved, it has been suggested the pendulum could be swinging in favour of Leuchars.
"The current terrorism threat facing the UK is severe," a source close to the UK Government told The Courier. "That means an attack is highly likely and thought is being given to the location of 'tier one' risk targets. Many of those in the northern half of Britain are within a very few minutes' flying time of Leuchars."
The Fife base is home to the quick reaction alert (QRA) service. While this routinely involves heading off unwanted incursions into UK air space from foreign aircraft, usually from Russia, crews are also ready to deal with far more sinister threats.
"QRA really has two aspects, the first of which involves reacting to incursions into the northern half of UK airspace which can be seen on radar and relatively easily dealt with — realistically from any base," our source said.
"However, the more critical role would involve a 9/11-type scenario, when a craft is in UK airspace quite legitimately and a threat very suddenly materialises. In such a case every second would count — and Leuchars has a clear advantage."
Other tier one risk targets close to Leuchars include Edinburgh city centre, the Faslane nuclear submarine base and the Hunterston B nuclear power station.
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11.09am - 18.06.2011 Alexander - Montrose, Angus Report This
There is now a good case for the Marines to stay at Arbroath, if, say Leuchers came under terrorist attack, our Royal's would only be up the road.
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