Vigilance can report that the new cutting edge Lightning II stealth fighter aircraft will be based at RAF Marham, the Defence Secretary Philip Hammond, yesterday announced.
The Lightning II is the most advanced jet our Armed Forces have ever operated and the decision to base it at RAF Marham has secured the future of the base. The decision will also mean new investment and infrastructure to make RAF Marham the Main Operating Base for the aircraft.
Lightning II will be jointly operated by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy and the aircraft will operate from the Navy’s new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers as well as from RAF Marham.
The Defence Secretary visited RAF Marham this morning to view the facilities and talk to personnel ahead of the announcement.
Secretary Philip Hammond said: “This is the next step in the restructuring of the Armed Forces, providing them with the world’s most capable combat aircraft. Basing the new Lightning II at RAF Marham makes strategic sense and best use of the resources available. It also secures the future of one of the UK’s most operationally-experienced bases. The Lightning II is the most advanced jet our Armed Forces have ever operated, and carries on the tradition of the Harrier, while having far greater range, payload and defensive capability. Now this decision has been taken, we can start the planning and infrastructure investment required for RAF Marham’s future.”
RAF Marham Station Commander Group Captain David Cooper said: “I am delighted that the Secretary of State has announced that RAF Marham is selected as the Lightning II Base. This is excellent news for my personnel, for the local community and region, and for the Royal Air Force and UK Defence.”
Yesterday's announcement also provided clarity on a number of other changes to bases in the UK, details of which were announced to Parliament in a Written Ministerial Statement. This includes RAF bases at Lossiemouth, Leuchars and Prestwick in Scotland, RAF Church Fenton in North Yorkshire, RAF Kirton in Lindsey in Lincolnshire; the Army base at Shorncliffe in Kent, and Ministry of Defence sites at St Athan in Wales, Ashchurch in Gloucestershire and Bicester