The familiar and thunderous roar of Typhoon aircraft will return to the skies above Leuchars next year.
The fighter jets will make a temporary comeback to Leuchars Station, five years after their departure.
Refurbishment of the runway at RAF Lossiemouth, where the aircraft were relocated, will see operations shipped out.
For up to six weeks during summer 2019 the Quick Reaction Alert (North) capability, which moved from RAF Leuchars to Lossiemouth in 2014, will return to the Fife station which is now an army base.
North East Fife MSP Willie Rennie said: “This is good news for Leuchars and shows how valuable the runway is for the armed forces.
“This surely makes the case for the runway to be maintained for the long term benefit of the RAF.
“The rumours about the closure of the runway should be addressed with a clear commitment for the future.”
Minister of State for Armed Forces Mark Lancaster said runway refurbishment was required at Lossiemouth to ensure the airfield can continue to sustain flying operations.
He said Typhoon operations would be relocated for up to six weeks, with QRA at Leuchars and other flying operations at Kinloss airfield.
RAF Leuchars was armed with the multirole Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet in 2010, replacing the Tornado F3.
It was the home of QRA (North), a force of armed and ready aircraft and suited and booted pilots prepared to take to the skies in defence of the UK at a moment’s notice.
However, it was announced in 2011 that the station was to close following the UK government’s strategic defence and security review.
The first of the station’s two Typhoon squadrons, No 6 Squadron, moved to Lossiemouth in June 2014 and No 1 Squadron and QRA (North) followed that September.
The station was handed over to the army and renamed Leuchars Station in 2015.
Its airfield is maintained as a relief landing ground for Lossiemouth and other aircraft.
