Prestwick to host Voyager fleet (Brize Runway works)

[Fives]

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/glasgow ... ing-fleet/


The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that Glasgow Prestwick Airport will temporarily host the RAF’s Voyager A330 refuelling fleet during major resurfacing works at RAF Brize Norton.
The move is part of Project MACE, a bolthole operation designed to maintain the UK’s air-to-air refuelling capability during a planned overhaul of Brize Norton’s Aerodrome Operating Surfaces.

According to a government transparency notice published on 12 June, the contract—valued at £1.2 million including VAT—will be directly awarded to Glasgow Prestwick Airport due to the site’s unique suitability. The upgrades at the airport will include the installation of concrete jacking pads, required for safe and compliant aircraft maintenance.

The Ministry of Defence stated: “Air Commercial, part of the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD), intends to award a contract to Glasgow Prestwick Airport (GPA) for the provision of services. The estimated value of the contract is £750,000 with a proposed term of 36 weeks. This Direct Award is related to a larger programme of work, referred to as MACE.”

The Voyager A330 is the RAF’s sole air-to-air refuelling tanker and also supports strategic air transport. The MOD warns that without these temporary facilities, “the Voyager fleet will be unavailable to support the Fast Jet fleet which critically defend UK airspace.”

The notice highlights that Prestwick is the only viable option due to technical and operational constraints:

“Only one airport, Glasgow Prestwick Airport, can meet all of the MOD’s technical requirements. GPA is the only airport that could take 7 Voyager aircraft. All other airfields lack the necessary secure communications… others would require full runway reconstruction, again at significant time of several years.”

The notice continues:

“Without the pads, the seven aircraft would quickly become unworthy of flight, jeopardising Defence outputs.”

In addition, the MOD stresses the importance of keeping the fleet together rather than dispersing it across multiple airfields:
“Dispersing the fleet across a number of sites would stretch these already scarce resources and would ultimately lead to many of the aircraft becoming unworthy of flight.”

Direct award of the contract is justified under the Procurement Act 2023 for both technical and defence reasons. The MOD concludes:

“Direct Award to GPA is necessary… to enhance or maintain the operational capability, effectiveness, readiness for action, safety or security of the armed forces.”

Work at Prestwick is expected to begin in July 2025 and last for 11 months, in preparation for the Voyager fleet’s arrival during the summer of 2026.

[NorvilleRogers]

See viewtopic.php?f=287&t=254840

[f-4]

So not Wittering as thought then.

[toom317]

Why not use Lynha... oh yeh! Still great news for us up here, but I don't think the troops based at Brize with families there will be happy.

[thevulcan]

Wittering will be A400's I believe or C17's

[PapaIndiaKilo30]

Accommodation has already been put up for this at HMS Gannet and I believe they are resurfacing the north side for the Voyagers too.

[NorvilleRogers]

Why not use Lynha... oh yeh! Still great news for us up here, but I don't think the troops based at Brize with families there will be happy.

If Lyneham were still in use would its runway be long enough for a fully loaded A330-MRTT?

[thevulcan]

Probably not NorvilleRogers the pan would certainly need to be strengthened.

[Lossie]

Surprised they couldn't have used Fairford, is only down the road and would be plenty of space for the USAF still to have deployments with the Voyagers in there. Unless the C-17s and/or A400s are going there and all three would take up too much space for the USAF's liking. RAF Honington hosted 48th FW F-15s years ago when Lakenheath's runway was being done.

[Philwinward]

Honington has recently had the odd A400 landing during exercises (not certain about C17) but comments suggest the runway is not in good enough condition for “normal “ use. All fuel would have to be brought in by road.
Prestwick makes sense for A330 as, I believe it is still on the national underground fuel pipeline so they just need to open the valves !!

[FlyingFairy]

Wittering will be A400's I believe or C17's

Have you got a credible source for this information?

I only ask as a friend who works in a civilian capacity at BZN mentioned that the C17 & A400 have to relocate to an airfield with hangars suitable for them to carry on undertaking scheduled maintenance. I don’t believe either will fit in the hangars at Wittering?

Apparently the replacement of the BZN runway will be carried out in one full length, where as the replacement of the runway at Waddington was carried out in sections which allowed the E3Ds to be swapped for scheduled hangar maintenance.

FF

[Lossie]

I wasn't suggesting using Honington now, rather the USAF used an RAF base for a bolthole many years ago so hopefully the USAF would be willing to extend the same courtesy by allowing use of Fairford.

[jamesg23]

Wittering will be A400's I believe or C17's

Have you got a credible source for this information?

I only ask as a friend who works in a civilian capacity at BZN mentioned that the C17 & A400 have to relocate to an airfield with hangars suitable for them to carry on undertaking scheduled maintenance. I don’t believe either will fit in the hangars at Wittering?

Apparently the replacement of the BZN runway will be carried out in one full length, where as the replacement of the runway at Waddington was carried out in sections which allowed the E3Ds to be swapped for scheduled hangar maintenance.

FF

Surely there are not many places in the uk apart from brize that have a hangar large enough for a c17 or a400. Even if it could get in a hangar the doors won't be able to shut properly.