Local MP Douglas Ross has welcomed news that the Royal Air Force’s E-7 Wedgetail fleet will be based in Moray.
The Ministry of Defence announced today that RAF Lossiemouth will be the new home of the UK fleet of the early warning radar aircraft.
The MoD said the announcement would “underpin” Scotland’s key role in UK and NATO defence and security.
RAF Lossiemouth is already home to half of the UK’s operational Typhoon fast jet fleet and the entire UK Poseidon fleet of nine aircraft.
The Wedgetail aircraft will provide the future RAF Airborne Early Warning and Control capability. It can track multiple airborne and maritime targets, sharing the data it collects to provide situational awareness and direct other assets such as fighter jets and warships.
The UK Government has invested £470million in RAF Lossiemouth over the past two years, with the latest addition of the Wedgetail fleet expected to support hundreds more jobs. The arrival of the Wedgetail in 2023 will also mark a return to RAF Lossiemouth for 8 Squadron, after an absence of 30 years.
Scottish Conservative MP for Moray Douglas Ross said:
“This is fantastic news and another clear sign of the UK Government’s commitment to the armed forces here in Moray and Scotland more widely.
“Moray is already home to the UK’s entire submarine-hunting Poseidon fleet as well as half of our operational Typhoon fast jet fleet.
“The addition of the Wedgetail fleet not only improves the UK’s security and defence capability but it will also mean hundreds more service personnel stationed here - which in turn means a significant boost to the local economy.
“Our military bases at Lossiemouth and Kinloss are vital to this area and I am delighted to see this Conservative government continuing to invest in Moray.”