Knowledge

RRH Benbecula

Source 📝

1519: 97: 35: 1304: 1310: 59: 1257: 104: 71: 331:
is now a civilian airfield, a military presence remained and the RAF Benbecula name continued when a radar station was established. A control and reporting centre, part of the UK Air Surveillance And Control System (ASACS), was constructed at the airfield which linked it to
343:
The station was downgraded in the late 1990s to a remote radar head and the RAF pulled-out of the main airfield site at Benbecula. Initially under the command and control of RAF Buchan, responsibility was transferred to
427:
As part of a major upgrade of RRH sites around the U.K. the MOD began a programme titled HYDRA in 2020 to install new state of the art communications buildings, radar towers and bespoke perimeter security.
424:
Radar Flight (North) of the ASACS Engineering & Logistics Squadron based at RAF Boulmer has command and control of RRH Buchan and ensures its operational availability.
1633: 1293: 1613: 1092: 437: 828: 962: 838: 884: 858: 1044: 833: 587: 130: 1623: 362:) came into service in the 1980s. The Type 92 was replaced in 2015 with a new Lockheed Martin AN/TPS-77 system. The new radar was funded by 1286: 848: 823: 767: 96: 1097: 1279: 1113: 1039: 987: 879: 1518: 1179: 1143: 1138: 391: 1061: 972: 1222: 853: 818: 785: 400: 188: 1618: 486: 1271: 1002: 454: 1087: 1023: 1260: 1118: 942: 874: 808: 449: 421:
for the United Kingdom. The radar site also accommodates several types of VHF and UHF ground-to-air transmitters.
1245: 1212: 1174: 843: 1240: 977: 813: 1250: 1049: 992: 760: 1207: 1164: 620: 537: 466: 1056: 982: 735: 355:
Benbecula operated several radar types until the Type 92 (more widely known out-with RAF service as the
997: 910: 905: 900: 1018: 721: 1169: 1123: 753: 461: 82: 1424: 1404: 1133: 1560: 1227: 1159: 967: 512: 418: 413:
The radar collects data as part of the UK Air Surveillance And Control System (ASACS) based at
367: 1419: 674: 1202: 957: 8: 1628: 1217: 34: 1301: 562: 1197: 1542: 1489: 1409: 1077: 443: 328: 311: 303: 20: 417:. From there the station is monitored and controlled to support the creation of the 1504: 1444: 1429: 1363: 1338: 952: 947: 306:, the name having previously been associated with an RAF airfield on the island of 1548: 1394: 1082: 932: 776: 645: 566: 356: 284: 208: 198: 1303: 1554: 1494: 1464: 1459: 1434: 1348: 383: 349: 296: 48: 1607: 1577: 1474: 1454: 1358: 1353: 1309: 1128: 337: 145: 132: 1484: 1469: 1449: 1439: 1379: 937: 398:), who remain at the Benbecula and South Uist sites, collectively known as 379: 1499: 1414: 1399: 1389: 414: 382:
also had a large presence in the Outer Hebrides, operating the artillery
345: 287:. It is located at Cleitreabhal a'Deas, 17 kilometres (11 mi) from 1479: 1343: 387: 359: 333: 292: 226: 44: 70: 699: 363: 307: 288: 19:
For the airbase after which this facility was previously named, see
440:– UK air defence radar system in the UK between the 1990s and 2000s 366:
developers and was installed in order to help reduce the impact of
745: 446:– UK air defence radar system in the UK between the 1960s and 1984 314:) and a nearby weapons testing range (now known as MoD Hebrides). 1384: 588:"Minutes of the Aviation Management Board Meeting - 17 July 2015" 395: 58: 165: 16:
Royal Air Force radar site in the Western Isles, Scotland
1307:  Royal Air Force radar stations   438:
Improved United Kingdom Air Defence Ground Environment
517:
Canmore – National Record of the Historic Environment
75: 283:, is an air defence radar station operated by the 487:"Defence Estates Development Plan 2009 – Annex A" 1605: 1634:Military installations established in the 1990s 1614:Buildings and structures in the Outer Hebrides 1287: 761: 493:. Ministry of Defence. 3 July 2009. p. 2 85:for 'Watchful' / 'On Guard') 1294: 1280: 768: 754: 621:"MOD radar upgrades: Buchan and Benbecula" 538:"MoD Radar upgrades: Buchan and Benbecula" 557: 555: 302:The radar site was previously known as 1606: 1596:1: Still in RAF use as a bombing range 1139:Commandant-General of the RAF Regiment 736:"Behind the scenes of Programme HYDRA" 618: 552: 392:Defence Evaluation and Research Agency 1275: 1062:List of equipment of the RAF Regiment 749: 669: 667: 614: 612: 103: 1624:Royal Air Force stations in Scotland 1256: 963:Princess Mary's RAF Nursing Service 775: 13: 1203:Combined Cadet Force (RAF section) 722:"Upgrading RAF Remote Radar Heads" 664: 609: 455:NATO Integrated Air Defense System 14: 1645: 1517: 1308: 1302: 1255: 1119:Assistant Chief of the Air Staff 619:Sudbry, Amy (24 February 2014). 450:List of Royal Air Force stations 373: 322: 102: 95: 69: 57: 33: 1213:RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine 1093:List of serving senior officers 728: 714: 540:. Pager Power. 24 February 2014 116:Shown within the Outer Hebrides 692: 638: 580: 530: 505: 479: 390:. This role was passed to the 1: 513:"Benbecula Airport, Airfield" 472: 408: 700:"UK VHF and UHF Frequencies" 467:Military history of Scotland 7: 988:RAF Mountain Rescue Service 983:RAF Search and Rescue Force 431: 277:Remote Radar Head Benbecula 229:(Type 92) Air Defence Radar 63:Radar dome at RRH Benbecula 10: 1650: 1619:Air defence radar stations 1144:Warrant Officer of the RAF 839:Operational Training units 317: 18: 1591: 1570: 1535: 1526: 1515: 1372: 1326: 1317: 1236: 1188: 1152: 1106: 1088:List of notable personnel 1070: 1032: 1019:Royal Auxiliary Air Force 1011: 923: 893: 885:Satellite Landing Grounds 867: 801: 792: 783: 266: 261: 253: 238: 233: 227:Lockheed Martin AN/TPS-77 222: 214: 204: 194: 184: 179: 171: 161: 124: 90: 68: 56: 42: 30: 1223:RAF Football Association 1124:Air Member for Personnel 844:Schools / Training units 462:Armed forces in Scotland 209:No. 1 Group (Air Combat) 1134:Air Member for Materiel 419:recognised air picture 394:(eventually to become 76: 1024:RAF Volunteer Reserve 175:6 hectares (15 acres) 1057:List of RAF missiles 1040:List of RAF aircraft 958:RAF Medical Services 943:RAF Chaplains Branch 675:"Radar Flight North" 370:from wind turbines. 270:Radar Flight (North) 262:Garrison information 146:57.61722°N 7.44611°W 1218:RAF Benevolent Fund 1153:symbols and uniform 786:Ministry of Defence 352:in September 2004. 189:Ministry of Defence 142: /  1557:(Falkland Islands) 1551:(Falkland Islands) 1545:(Falkland Islands) 1198:Air Training Corps 1114:Chief of Air Staff 978:RAF Music Services 205:Controlled by 151:57.61722; -7.44611 1601: 1600: 1587: 1586: 1513: 1512: 1269: 1268: 1098:Personnel numbers 993:RAF Marine Branch 973:RAF ground trades 919: 918: 444:Linesman/Mediator 329:Benbecula Airport 312:Benbecula Airport 274: 273: 166:Remote Radar Head 21:Benbecula Airport 1641: 1533: 1532: 1521: 1324: 1323: 1312: 1306: 1296: 1289: 1282: 1273: 1272: 1259: 1258: 1189:associated civil 953:RAF Legal Branch 948:RAF Intelligence 834:Conversion units 799: 798: 770: 763: 756: 747: 746: 740: 739: 732: 726: 725: 718: 712: 711: 709: 707: 696: 690: 689: 687: 685: 671: 662: 661: 659: 657: 642: 636: 635: 633: 631: 616: 607: 606: 604: 602: 592: 584: 578: 577: 575: 573: 559: 550: 549: 547: 545: 534: 528: 527: 525: 523: 509: 503: 502: 500: 498: 483: 249: 247: 180:Site information 157: 156: 154: 153: 152: 147: 143: 140: 139: 138: 135: 106: 105: 99: 79: 73: 61: 52: 51:in Scotland 37: 28: 27: 1649: 1648: 1644: 1643: 1642: 1640: 1639: 1638: 1604: 1603: 1602: 1597: 1583: 1566: 1528: 1522: 1509: 1368: 1319: 1313: 1300: 1270: 1265: 1232: 1208:RAF Association 1190: 1184: 1180:Heraldic badges 1148: 1102: 1066: 1028: 1007: 933:Air Force Board 925: 915: 889: 863: 794: 788: 779: 777:Royal Air Force 774: 744: 743: 738:. 23 June 2021. 734: 733: 729: 724:. 17 June 2021. 720: 719: 715: 705: 703: 698: 697: 693: 683: 681: 673: 672: 665: 655: 653: 644: 643: 639: 629: 627: 617: 610: 600: 598: 590: 586: 585: 581: 571: 569: 567:Royal Air Force 561: 560: 553: 543: 541: 536: 535: 531: 521: 519: 511: 510: 506: 496: 494: 485: 484: 480: 475: 434: 411: 376: 357:Lockheed Martin 325: 320: 291:on the isle of 285:Royal Air Force 245: 243: 199:Royal Air Force 150: 148: 144: 141: 136: 133: 131: 129: 128: 120: 119: 118: 117: 114: 113: 112: 111: 107: 86: 83:Scottish Gaelic 80: 64: 43: 38: 24: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1647: 1637: 1636: 1631: 1626: 1621: 1616: 1599: 1598: 1595: 1593: 1589: 1588: 1585: 1584: 1582: 1581: 1574: 1572: 1568: 1567: 1565: 1564: 1558: 1552: 1546: 1539: 1537: 1530: 1529:radar stations 1524: 1523: 1516: 1514: 1511: 1510: 1508: 1507: 1502: 1497: 1492: 1487: 1482: 1477: 1472: 1467: 1462: 1457: 1452: 1447: 1442: 1437: 1432: 1427: 1422: 1417: 1412: 1407: 1402: 1397: 1392: 1387: 1382: 1376: 1374: 1370: 1369: 1367: 1366: 1361: 1356: 1351: 1346: 1341: 1336: 1330: 1328: 1321: 1315: 1314: 1299: 1298: 1291: 1284: 1276: 1267: 1266: 1264: 1263: 1253: 1248: 1243: 1237: 1234: 1233: 1231: 1230: 1225: 1220: 1215: 1210: 1205: 1200: 1194: 1192: 1186: 1185: 1183: 1182: 1177: 1172: 1167: 1162: 1156: 1154: 1150: 1149: 1147: 1146: 1141: 1136: 1131: 1126: 1121: 1116: 1110: 1108: 1104: 1103: 1101: 1100: 1095: 1090: 1085: 1080: 1074: 1072: 1068: 1067: 1065: 1064: 1059: 1054: 1053: 1052: 1047: 1036: 1034: 1030: 1029: 1027: 1026: 1021: 1015: 1013: 1012:reserve forces 1009: 1008: 1006: 1005: 1000: 998:RAF Air Cadets 995: 990: 985: 980: 975: 970: 965: 960: 955: 950: 945: 940: 935: 929: 927: 921: 920: 917: 916: 914: 913: 908: 903: 897: 895: 891: 890: 888: 887: 882: 877: 871: 869: 865: 864: 862: 861: 856: 851: 846: 841: 836: 831: 826: 821: 816: 811: 805: 803: 796: 790: 789: 784: 781: 780: 773: 772: 765: 758: 750: 742: 741: 727: 713: 691: 663: 646:"MOD Hebrides" 637: 608: 597:. 17 July 2015 579: 551: 529: 504: 477: 476: 474: 471: 470: 469: 464: 458: 457: 452: 447: 441: 433: 430: 410: 407: 384:Deep Sea Range 375: 372: 350:Northumberland 324: 321: 319: 316: 310:(now known as 297:Outer Hebrides 272: 271: 268: 264: 263: 259: 258: 255: 251: 250: 240: 236: 235: 231: 230: 224: 220: 219: 216: 212: 211: 206: 202: 201: 196: 192: 191: 186: 182: 181: 177: 176: 173: 169: 168: 163: 159: 158: 126: 122: 121: 115: 109: 108: 101: 100: 94: 93: 92: 91: 88: 87: 74: 66: 65: 62: 54: 53: 49:Outer Hebrides 40: 39: 32: 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1646: 1635: 1632: 1630: 1627: 1625: 1622: 1620: 1617: 1615: 1612: 1611: 1609: 1594: 1590: 1579: 1576: 1575: 1573: 1569: 1562: 1561:Mount Olympus 1559: 1556: 1553: 1550: 1547: 1544: 1543:Byron Heights 1541: 1540: 1538: 1534: 1531: 1525: 1520: 1506: 1503: 1501: 1498: 1496: 1493: 1491: 1490:Swingate Down 1488: 1486: 1483: 1481: 1478: 1476: 1473: 1471: 1468: 1466: 1463: 1461: 1458: 1456: 1453: 1451: 1448: 1446: 1443: 1441: 1438: 1436: 1433: 1431: 1428: 1426: 1423: 1421: 1418: 1416: 1413: 1411: 1410:Bishops Court 1408: 1406: 1403: 1401: 1398: 1396: 1393: 1391: 1388: 1386: 1383: 1381: 1378: 1377: 1375: 1371: 1365: 1362: 1360: 1357: 1355: 1352: 1350: 1347: 1345: 1342: 1340: 1337: 1335: 1332: 1331: 1329: 1325: 1322: 1316: 1311: 1305: 1297: 1292: 1290: 1285: 1283: 1278: 1277: 1274: 1262: 1254: 1252: 1249: 1247: 1244: 1242: 1239: 1238: 1235: 1229: 1226: 1224: 1221: 1219: 1216: 1214: 1211: 1209: 1206: 1204: 1201: 1199: 1196: 1195: 1193: 1191:organisations 1187: 1181: 1178: 1176: 1173: 1171: 1168: 1166: 1163: 1161: 1158: 1157: 1155: 1151: 1145: 1142: 1140: 1137: 1135: 1132: 1130: 1129:Air Secretary 1127: 1125: 1122: 1120: 1117: 1115: 1112: 1111: 1109: 1105: 1099: 1096: 1094: 1091: 1089: 1086: 1084: 1081: 1079: 1078:Officer ranks 1076: 1075: 1073: 1069: 1063: 1060: 1058: 1055: 1051: 1048: 1046: 1043: 1042: 1041: 1038: 1037: 1035: 1031: 1025: 1022: 1020: 1017: 1016: 1014: 1010: 1004: 1001: 999: 996: 994: 991: 989: 986: 984: 981: 979: 976: 974: 971: 969: 966: 964: 961: 959: 956: 954: 951: 949: 946: 944: 941: 939: 936: 934: 931: 930: 928: 922: 912: 909: 907: 904: 902: 899: 898: 896: 892: 886: 883: 881: 878: 876: 873: 872: 870: 866: 860: 857: 855: 852: 850: 847: 845: 842: 840: 837: 835: 832: 830: 827: 825: 822: 820: 817: 815: 812: 810: 807: 806: 804: 800: 797: 791: 787: 782: 778: 771: 766: 764: 759: 757: 752: 751: 748: 737: 731: 723: 717: 701: 695: 680: 676: 670: 668: 651: 647: 641: 626: 622: 615: 613: 596: 589: 583: 568: 564: 563:"RAF Boulmer" 558: 556: 539: 533: 518: 514: 508: 492: 488: 482: 478: 468: 465: 463: 460: 459: 456: 453: 451: 448: 445: 442: 439: 436: 435: 429: 425: 422: 420: 416: 406: 404: 402: 397: 393: 389: 385: 381: 374:Weapons range 371: 369: 365: 361: 358: 353: 351: 347: 341: 339: 338:Aberdeenshire 335: 330: 323:Radar station 315: 313: 309: 305: 304:RAF Benbecula 300: 299:of Scotland. 298: 294: 290: 286: 282: 281:RRH Benbecula 278: 269: 265: 260: 256: 252: 241: 237: 232: 228: 225: 221: 217: 213: 210: 207: 203: 200: 197: 193: 190: 187: 183: 178: 174: 170: 167: 164: 160: 155: 127: 123: 110:RRH Benbecula 98: 89: 84: 78: 72: 67: 60: 55: 50: 46: 41: 36: 31:RRH Benbecula 29: 26: 22: 1505:West Beckham 1445:Goldsborough 1430:Danby Beacon 1364:Staxton Wold 1339:Brizlee Wood 1333: 1107:appointments 938:RAF Regiment 924:branches and 854:Glider units 730: 716: 704:. Retrieved 694: 682:. Retrieved 678: 654:. Retrieved 649: 640: 628:. Retrieved 624: 599:. Retrieved 594: 582: 570:. Retrieved 542:. Retrieved 532: 520:. Retrieved 516: 507: 495:. Retrieved 490: 481: 426: 423: 412: 399: 380:British Army 377: 368:interference 354: 342: 326: 301: 280: 276: 275: 257:1980–present 234:Site history 25: 1549:Mount Alice 1395:Beachy Head 1083:Other ranks 849:Ferry units 706:18 February 702:. Javiation 679:RAF Boulmer 625:Pager Power 544:18 February 415:RAF Boulmer 346:RAF Boulmer 254:In use 218:Operational 149: / 137:007°26′46″W 125:Coordinates 77:Faireachail 1629:North Uist 1608:Categories 1555:Mount Kent 1495:Trimingham 1465:Patrington 1460:Kilchiaran 1435:Donna Nook 1349:Neatishead 1228:RAF Museum 1003:Operations 968:RAF Police 926:components 859:Misc units 793:formations 656:23 October 522:23 October 473:References 409:Operations 388:South Uist 360:AN/FPS-117 334:RAF Buchan 293:North Uist 223:Radar type 134:57°37′02″N 45:North Uist 1527:worldwide 1475:Ringstead 1455:Hope Cove 1425:Cresswell 1405:Bent Rigg 1359:Saxa Vord 1354:Portreath 1334:Benbecula 1071:personnel 1033:equipment 906:Squadrons 824:Squadrons 795:and units 652:. Qinetiq 572:22 August 364:wind farm 327:Although 308:Benbecula 289:Lochmaddy 267:Occupants 215:Condition 1578:Madalena 1563:(Cyprus) 1485:Stenigot 1470:Portland 1450:Holmpton 1440:Dry Tree 1380:Aird Uig 1320:stations 1318:UK radar 1246:timeline 1170:Roundels 894:Regiment 868:stations 809:Commands 684:6 August 630:6 August 601:6 August 497:30 April 432:See also 403:Hebrides 195:Operator 1580:(Malta) 1500:Ventnor 1420:Craster 1415:Chenies 1400:Bempton 1390:Bawdsey 1261:commons 1241:history 1175:Uniform 1045:current 911:Flights 829:Flights 396:QinetiQ 318:History 295:in the 244: ( 1571:former 1536:active 1480:Sopley 1373:former 1344:Buchan 1327:active 1251:future 1160:Ensign 1050:future 880:Former 875:Active 814:Groups 595:GOV.UK 491:GOV.UK 1592:notes 1165:Badge 901:Wings 819:Wings 802:units 591:(PDF) 239:Built 185:Owner 708:2022 686:2017 658:2017 650:LTPA 632:2017 603:2017 574:2009 546:2022 524:2017 499:2019 378:The 246:1980 242:1980 172:Area 162:Type 1385:Ash 401:MOD 386:on 348:in 336:in 279:or 1610:: 677:. 666:^ 648:. 623:. 611:^ 593:. 565:. 554:^ 515:. 489:. 405:. 340:. 47:, 1295:e 1288:t 1281:v 769:e 762:t 755:v 710:. 688:. 660:. 634:. 605:. 576:. 548:. 526:. 501:. 248:) 81:( 23:.

Index

Benbecula Airport

North Uist
Outer Hebrides


Scottish Gaelic
RRH Benbecula is located in Outer Hebrides
57°37′02″N 007°26′46″W / 57.61722°N 7.44611°W / 57.61722; -7.44611
Remote Radar Head
Ministry of Defence
Royal Air Force
No. 1 Group (Air Combat)
Lockheed Martin AN/TPS-77
Royal Air Force
Lochmaddy
North Uist
Outer Hebrides
RAF Benbecula
Benbecula
Benbecula Airport
Benbecula Airport
RAF Buchan
Aberdeenshire
RAF Boulmer
Northumberland
Lockheed Martin
AN/FPS-117
wind farm
interference

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.