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| Royal Air Force of theBritish Armed Forces |
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| Components |
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| History and future |
| Aircraft |
| Personnel |
| Organisation |
| Auxiliary services |
Thislist of Royal Air Force stations is an overview of all currentstations of the Royal Air Force (RAF) throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. This includes front-line and trainingairbases, support, administrative and training stations with no flying activity, unmannedairfields used for training,intelligence gathering stations and anearly warning radar network.
The list also includes RAF stations occupied by theUnited States Visiting Forces, former RAF stations now operated by defence contractorQinetiQ on behalf of theMinistry of Defence (MOD), andair weapons ranges operated by the MOD.
Overseas, the RAF operates airfields at four Permanent Joint Operating Bases (PJOBs) which are located inBritish Overseas Territories.
RAF front-line operations are centred on seven main operating bases (MOBs):
Operations are supported by numerous other flying and non-flying stations, with activity centred atRAF Honington which coordinatesForce Protection, andRAF Leeming andRAF Wittering which have a support enabler role.
Stations such asRAF Cranwell,RAF Valley andRAF Shawbury form part of theUK Military Flying Training System, which is dedicated to training aircrew for all threeUK armed services. Specialist ground crew training takes place atRAF Cosford andMOD St Athan.
TheControl and Reporting Centre (CRC) atRAF Boulmer is tasked with compiling aRecognised Air Picture of UK airspace and providing tactical control of theQuick Reaction Alert Force. Boulmer is supported by a network of sevenRemote Radar Heads (RRHs) spread throughout the UK.
Several former RAF stations are still owned by theMinistry of Defence (MOD), and are operated by defence contractorQinetiQ in the test and evaluation role. The main facility isMOD Boscombe Down in Wiltshire, which still has a significant RAF presence.
A small number of former RAF stations remain in MOD ownership even though they are used by the RAF in therelief landing ground (RLG) role, flying byVolunteer Gliding Squadrons or other training purposes. They are described asairfields and are typically unmanned.
| Name | Constituent country | County | Units and purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| RAF Barkston Heath | England | Lincolnshire | Defence Elementary Flying Training School, comprising703 Naval Air Squadron, part of theUK Military Flying Training System, which operates theGrob Prefect T1 in the elementary flying training role.[1] Also operates as a Relief Landing Ground (RLG), predominately used byPrefect T1's ofNo. 3 Flying Training School fromRAF Cranwell.[1] |
| RAF Barnham | England | Suffolk | Non-flying satellite site ofRAF Honington providing domestic accommodation and training facilities for theRAF Regiment.[2] Expected to close and be disposed of by 2027.[3] |
| RAF Benson | England | Oxfordshire | Airbase operating under Joint Aviation Command, comprisingNo. 28 Squadron operating theBoeing Chinook HC6A, andNo. 33 Squadron andNo. 22 Squadron.[4] |
| RAF Boulmer | England | Northumberland | Non-flying station, home to the RAF Battlespace Management Force, UK Air Surveillance and Control System (UKASCS), and a NATOControl and Reporting Centre responsible for monitoring UK airspace.[5] |
| RAF Brize Norton | England | Oxfordshire | The RAF's largest station, home to the strategic and tactical air-transport and air-to-air refuelling fleets (Boeing C-17A Globemaster,Airbus Voyager KC2/KC3, and theAirbus A400M Atlas, and latterlyLockheed Martin C-130 Hercules C4/5 until their retirement in 2023).[6] |
| RAF Coningsby | England | Lincolnshire | Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 main operating base, withNo. 3 Squadron andNo. 11 Squadron both contributing to theQuick Reaction Alert (Interceptor) South capability.No. 29 Squadron is the Typhoonoperational conversion unit, andNo. 41 Squadron operate the Typhoon for test and evaluation purposes.[7] Also home to theBattle of Britain Memorial Flight operate a fleet of historic fighter, bomber and training aircraft in the flying display role.[7] |
| RAF Cosford | England | Shropshire | Training establishment, home to theDefence School of Aeronautical Engineering (DSAE) Headquarters,No. 1 School of Technical Training, the RAF Aerosystems Engineer and Management Training School,No. 1 Radio School,Defence School of Photography, and the RAF School of Physical Training. Flying units include theUniversity of Birmingham Air Squadron,No. 8 Air Experience Flight. Also home to theRAF Museum Cosford.[8] |
| RAF Cranwell | England | Lincolnshire | Training establishment, home toRAF College Cranwell (RAFC Cranwell), theOfficer and Aircrew Selection Centre (OASC), andAir Cadets Headquarters. Flying units comprise theCentral Flying School responsible for training flying instructors, the headquarters and flying squadrons ofNo. 3 Flying Training School (Embraer Phenom T1 andGrob Prefect T1) andNo. 6 Flying Training School flying theGrob Tutor T1.[9] |
| RAF Digby | England | Lincolnshire | Non-flying station providing specialist communications support under command ofDefence Intelligence. Station personnel are drawn from all three branches of theUK armed forces, along with the U.S.National Security Agency. Home to the Joint Services Signals Organisation Headquarters, Joint Signals Service Unit (Digby), No. 591 Signals Unit, and the Aerial Erector School.[10] |
| RAF Fylingdales | England | North Yorkshire | Non-flying station providing an uninterruptedballistic missile early warning andspace surveillance capability to the UK and US governments.[11] |
| RAF Halton | England | Buckinghamshire | Training establishment comprising the Recruit Training Squadron, Airmen's Command Squadron, International Defence Training, Supply and Management Training Wing, Specialist Training School, and several other RAF and joint support units.[12] A grass airfield provides a base for several RAF flying clubs.[13] Expected to close and be disposed of by December 2025. |
| RAF Henlow | England | Bedfordshire | Support station, home to specialist RAF andStrategic Command units, including theRAF Centre of Aviation Medicine, theJoint Arms Control Implementation Group (JACIG), andForensic Exploitation Flight.[14] Expected to close and be disposed of by 2026.[15] |
| RAF High Wycombe | England | Buckinghamshire | Non-flying administrative support station, home toHeadquarters RAF Air Command,No. 1 Group,No. 2 Group,No. 11 Group, andNo. 22 Group.[16] |
| RAF Honington | England | Suffolk | Support station, hosts initial and further training for, and is home to theRAF Regiment. The majority of the RAF Regiment, including theCombat Readiness Force Headquarters and Force Protection Centre, and numerous RAF Regiment, RAF Police, andRAuxAF squadrons are based here. Also hostsRAF Police Headquarters and the Specialist Police Wing.[17] |
| RAF Leeming | England | North Yorkshire | Home to theYorkshire Universities Air Squadron,Northumbrian Universities Air Squadron, and bothNo. 9 andNo. 11 Air Experience Flight, sharing the Grob Tutor T1. Non flying units includeNo. 607 (County of Durham) Squadron (RAuxAF)No. 85 (Expeditionary Logistics) Wing,No. 90 Signals Unit,No. 2 Force Protection Wing,No. 34 Squadron RAF Regiment,No. 609 (West Riding) Squadron (RAuxAF), and theJoint Forward Air Controller Training and Standards Unit (JFACTSU).[18] |
| RAF Lossiemouth | Scotland | Moray | Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 main operating base, withNo. 1 Squadron,No. 2 (AC) Squadron,No. 6 Squadron, andNo. 9 Squadron, contributing to theQuick Reaction Alert (Interceptor) North capability.No. 120 Squadron andNo. 201 Squadron operate theP-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.No. 5 Force Protection Wing HQ,No. 51 Squadron RAF Regiment, andNo. 2622 (Highland) Squadron (RAuxAF) operate in the force protection role.[19] |
| RAF Marham | England | Norfolk | F-35B Lightning II main operating base, home toNo. 207 Squadron andNo. 617 Squadron. Non-flying units includeNo. 3 Force Protection Wing HQ, No. 93 Expeditionary Armament Squadron, andNo. 2620 (County of Norfolk) Squadron (RAuxAF).[20][21] |
| RAF Mona | Wales | Isle of Anglesey | Relief Landing Ground (RLG) for training aircraft operating fromRAF Valley.[22] |
| RAF Northolt | England | Greater London | Home ofNo. 32 (The Royal) Squadron operating the Envoy IV CC1 in the Command Support Air Transport (CSAT) role. Also home toNo. 63 Squadron (King's Colour Squadron) RAF Regiment,No. 600 (City of London) Squadron (RAuxAF), No. 1 Aeronautical Information Documents Unit (AIDU), and the Headquarters Music Services and theCentral Band of the RAF. Several other military units are based at Northolt, including theBritish Forces Post Office andNo. 621 (EOD) Squadron of theRoyal Logistics Corps.[23] |
| RAF Odiham | England | Hampshire | Home of the RAF'sChinook fleet operating under Joint Aviation Command, comprisingNo. 7 Squadron,No. 18 Squadron, andNo. 27 Squadron.[24] |
| RAF Shawbury | England | Shropshire | Home of the tri-serviceNo. 1 Flying Training School, comprisingNo. 60 Squadron RAF,No. 660 SquadronAAC, and705 Naval Air SquadronFAA, flying theAirbus Juno HT1. Elements of theCentral Flying School (Helicopter) Squadron train helicopter flying instructors, and the School of Air Operations Control (SAOC) trains air traffic controllers for the RAF and Royal Navy.[25] |
| RAF Spadeadam | England | Cumbria | RAF Spadeadam is the only electronic warfare tactics facility in Europe used byNATO and British aircrews to practice tactics. It is the largest RAF base by area, at 9,600-acre.[26] |
| RAF St Mawgan | England | Cornwall | Non-flying station with its airfield part now operating asNewquay Airport. The station is home to the tri-serviceDefence Survive, Evade, Resist, Extract Training Organisation andNo. 505 (Wessex) Squadron RAuxAF.[27] Also used by theDefence Infrastructure Organisation to accommodate personnel utilising theDefence Training Estate within the south west of England.[28] |
| RAF Syerston | England | Nottinghamshire | Home ofNo. 2 Flying Training School headquarters, theCentral Gliding School, andNo. 644 Volunteer Gliding Squadron.[29] |
| RAF Topcliffe | England | North Yorkshire | Former larger RAF station, now an enclave within the British Army'sAlanbrooke Barracks, with the airfield retained by the RAF and used byNo. 645 Volunteer Gliding Squadron teaching Air Cadets to fly theGrob Viking.[30] |
| RAF Valley | Wales | Isle of Anglesey | Flying training station home toNo. 4 Flying Training School, comprisingNo. 4 Squadron andNo. 25 Squadron operating theBAE Systems Hawk T2 andNo. 72 Squadron operating the Texan T1. AlsoNo. 202 Squadron, part ofNo. 1 Flying Training School, operates theAirbus Jupiter HT1 in the maritime and mountain flying training role. The station is also home to theRAF Mountain Rescue Service headquarters.[31] |
| RAF Waddington | England | Lincolnshire | Main operating base, home to the RAF'sIntelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) operations.No. 8 Squadron operate theBoeing E-7 Wedgetail,No. 13 Squadron theGeneral Atomics MQ-9 Reaper,No. 14 Squadron theBeechcraft Shadow R1, andNo. 51 Squadron theBoeing RC-135V Rivet Joint.No. 54 Squadron is the ISTAR training unit, andNo. 56 Squadron is the ISTAR test and evaluation unit.[32] Non-flying squadrons and units includeNo. 2503 (County of Lincoln) Squadron RAuxAF Regiment, the RAF Air Battlespace Training Centre,RAF Air and Space Warfare Centre, the headquarters of the intelligence reserves, and No. 7006 (VR) Intelligence Squadron.[33] |
| RAF Weston-on-the-Green | England | Oxfordshire | Force Development Training Centre, used byNo. 1 Parachute Training School (based at nearbyRAF Brize Norton) as a parachute drop-zone.[34] |
| RAF Wittering | England | Cambridgeshire andNorthamptonshire | Support station accommodating elements of the RAF Support Force which supports deployed and expeditionary air operations, and comprises a variety of units underNo. 42 (Expeditionary Support) Wing andNo. 85 (Expeditionary Logistics) Wing.[35] Flying units consist ofNo. 16 Squadron ofNo. 3 Flying Training School andNo. 115 Squadron,University of London Air Squadron,Cambridge University Air Squadron, andNo. 5 Air Experience Flight ofNo. 6 Flying Training School, all flying theGrob Tutor T1.[36] |
| RAF Woodvale | England | Merseyside | Training station home toLiverpool University Air Squadron,Manchester and Salford Universities Air Squadron, andNo. 10 Air Experience Flight, all flying theGrob Tutor T1, along withNo. 631 Volunteer Gliding Squadron. The Station is also home toNo. 611 (West Lancashire) Squadron RAuxAF.[37] |
| RAF Wyton | England | Cambridgeshire | Non-flying intelligence station operated underStrategic Command, home to theNational Centre for Geospatial Intelligence (NCGI) ofDefence Intelligence and42 Engineer Regiment (Geographic) of theBritish Army.[38] |
These are MOD orBritish Army facilities (most former RAF stations) listed in recognition of the RAF retaining a presence at each site.
| Name | Constituent country | County | Units and purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| MOD Aberporth | Wales | Ceredigion | FormerRAE Aberporth, now operated byQinetiQ on behalf of the MOD as a test and evaluation range.[39] |
| MOD Boscombe Down | England | Wiltshire | Test and evaluationairbase operated byQinetiQ on behalf of the MOD. Home to the Air Test and Evaluation Centre,Empire Test Pilots School,Rotary Wing Test and Evaluation Squadron, and theJoint Aircraft Recovery and Transportation Squadron.[40][41] |
| MOD Hebrides | Scotland | Outer Hebrides | Deep sea range for complex weapons trials, currently operated byQinetiQ on behalf of the MOD as a test and evaluation range.[42] |
| MOD St. Athan | Wales | Vale of Glamorgan | Training station (formerly RAF St. Athan), home to No. 4 School of Technical Training and theUniversity of Wales Air Squadron flying theGrob Tutor T1.[43] |
| MOD West Freugh | Scotland | Dumfries and Galloway | Former RAF station, now operated byQinetiQ on behalf of the MOD as a test and evaluation range. Itsairfield is disused and unlicensed, but available for military exercises.[44] |
| Aldergrove Flying Station | Northern Ireland | County Antrim | Formerly RAF Aldergrove, the station is now a British Army facility.[45] The RAF maintains a presence with theNorthern Ireland Universities Air Squadron andNo. 13 Air Experience Flight operating theGrob Tutor T1 andNo. 502 (Ulster) Squadron (Royal Auxiliary Air Force).[46] |
| Kenley Airfield | England | Surrey | Former RAF station, currently home toNo. 615 Volunteer Gliding Squadron flying theGrob Viking T1.[47] |
| Keevil Airfield | England | Wiltshire | Former RAF station, now an unmannedairfield used for training purposes predominantly by aircraft from RAF Brize Norton.[48] It is also used by theBritish Army for ground exercises, by Joint Aviation Command,[49] and by47th Regiment Royal Artillery to fly theWatchkeeper UAV.[50] |
| Kirknewton Airfield | Scotland | Midlothian | Former RAF station, home toNo. 661 Volunteer Gliding Squadron flying theGrob Viking T1. |
| Leuchars Station | Scotland | Fife | Relief Landing Ground (RLG) forRAF Lossiemouth, maintained by a small number of RAF personnel operating theairfield andair traffic control radar. This former RAF station is now a British Army barracks, but continues to accommodate theEast of Scotland Universities Air Squadron andNo. 12 Air Experience Flight (both flying theGrob Tutor T1), andNo. 612 (County of Aberdeen) Squadron (Royal Auxiliary Air Force) in the medical support role.[45][51] |
| Little Rissington Airfield | England | Gloucestershire | Former RAF station, currently home toNo. 621 Volunteer Gliding Squadron andNo. 637 Volunteer Gliding Squadron. It is also used for military training exercises.[52] |
| London Area Control Centre | England | Hampshire | No. 78 Squadron is embedded in the civilianLondon Area Control Centre operated byNATS at Swanwick. It provides a militaryair traffic control service across the UK, operates the UK'sDistress and Diversion Cell, and provides air traffic control services forRAF Northolt.[53] |
| Ternhill Airfield | England | Shropshire | Former RAF station, unmannedairfield now used primarily for training purposes and as a Relief Landing Ground for helicopters of theNo. 1 Flying Training School.[54] |
| Upavon Airfield | England | Wiltshire | FormerlyRAF Upavon now known as Upavon Station, north site now operated by theBritish Army as Trenchard Lines, airfield used byNo. 622 Volunteer Gliding Squadron which teaches Air Cadets to fly theGrob Viking T1.[55] |
Remote Radar Heads (RRHs) are the UK's air defence radar sites. The RRHs can now be monitored centrally with only limited on-site radar maintenance support. This has enabled the release of the majority of RAF personnel previously based permanently at these locations. The sites are maintained and operated primarily bySerco.[56] The MOD finished installing new state-of-the-art communications buildings, radar towers and bespoke perimeter security on the sites in 2023 under Programme HYDRA.
| Name | Constituent country | County | Units and purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| RRH Benbecula | Scotland | Outer Hebrides | Remote Radar Head (formerlyRAF Benbecula) forming part of the UK Air Surveillance and Control System managed fromRAF Boulmer.[57] |
| RRH Brizlee Wood | England | Northumberland | Remote Radar Head (formerly RAF Brizlee Wood) forming part of the UK Air Surveillance and Control System managed fromRAF Boulmer.[57] |
| RRH Buchan | Scotland | Aberdeenshire | Remote Radar Head (formerlyRAF Buchan) forming part of the UK Air Surveillance and Control System managed fromRAF Boulmer.[57] |
| RRH Neatishead | England | Norfolk | Remote Radar Head (formerlyRAF Neatishead), forming part of the UK Air Surveillance and Control System managed fromRAF Boulmer.[57] |
| RRH Portreath | England | Cornwall | Remote Radar Head (formerlyRAF Portreath) forming part of the UK Air Surveillance and Control System managed fromRAF Boulmer.[57] |
| RRH Staxton Wold | England | North Yorkshire | Remote Radar Head (formerlyRAF Staxton Wold) forming part of the UK Air Surveillance and Control System managed fromRAF Boulmer.[58] |
| RRH Saxa Vord | Scotland | Shetland Islands | Remote Radar Head (formerly RAF Saxa Vord) forming part of the UK Air Surveillance and Control System managed fromRAF Boulmer.[59] |
_-_RAF_Mildenhall_-_Suffolk%2c_England_-_17th_July_2013.jpg)
At the invitation of theUK Government, the United States has had military forces (known as US Visiting Forces) permanently stationed in the United Kingdom since theSecond World War. The 1951NATOStatus of Forces Agreement and theVisiting Forces Act 1952, along with other bilateral acts, establishes the legal status of the USVF in the UK. Several military sites within England are made available for the USVF's purposes.
ARoyal Air Force commander is present at the main USVF sites, and is normally of the rank ofSquadron Leader, whereas a USColonel will normally command US personnel at each station. The role of the RAF commander is to liaise with the US base commander, and act as head of establishment forMinistry of Defence employees. The use of UK bases for combat operations by the United States is a joint decision by both governments.[60]
TheUnited States Air Force (USAF)501st Combat Support Wing manages and supports operations atRAF Alconbury,RAF Croughton,RAF Fairford,RAF Menwith Hill,RAF Molesworth, andRAF Welford, whereasRAF Lakenheath andRAF Mildenhall are managed by their respective host wings.
| Name | Constituent country | County | Units and purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| RAF Alconbury | England | Cambridgeshire | Non-flying station home to the USAF423rd Air Base Group (part of the501st Combat Support Wing) which provides services and accommodation to support operations atRAF Molesworth and theJoint Warfare Centre,Stavanger in Norway.[61] |
| RAF Barford St John | England | Oxfordshire | Non-flying station operated as asignals intelligencerelay station by the USAF. The facility is a satellite station ofRAF Croughton and controlled remotely.[62] |
| RAF Croughton | England | Northamptonshire | Non-flying station operated as asignals intelligence facility by the USAF andUS intelligence agencies. The station is operated by the USAF 422nd Air Base Group (part of the501st Combat Support Wing).[63][64] |
| RAF Fairford | England | Gloucestershire | Forward operating airfield predominately used by USAF heavy bombers such as theB-1B Lancer,B-2A Spirit andB-52H Stratofortress. The station is operated by the USAF 420th Air Base Squadron, 422nd Air Base Group (part of the501st Combat Support Wing).[65] TheRoyal International Air Tattoo, the world's largest military air show, is held at Fairford annually in July.[66] |
| RAF Feltwell | England | Norfolk | Non-flying station, operated as anintelligence gathering facility by a detachment of theUS Space Force's73rd Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Squadron, which is assigned toSpace Delta 7. Feltwell is parented by the48th Fighter Wing atRAF Lakenheath.[67] |
| RAF Lakenheath | England | Suffolk | Home to the USAF48th Fighter Wing, operating theF-15C/D Eagle,F-15E Strike Eagle, andF-35A Lightning II.[68][69] |
| RAF Menwith Hill | England | North Yorkshire | Joint UK / USsignals intelligence gathering station which functions primarily as a field station of the USNational Security Agency.[70] Operations are supported by the USAF 421st Air Base Squadron which is part of the501st Combat Support Wing.[71] |
| RAF Mildenhall | England | Suffolk | Home to the USAF100th Air Refuelling Wing operating theKC-135R Stratotanker, and the352nd Special Operations Wing operating theCV-22 Osprey andMC-130J Commando II. The95th Reconnaissance Squadron supportsRC-135 aircraft when deployed to Europe and operating from the station.[72] |
| RAF Molesworth | England | Cambridgeshire | Non-flying station, home to theJoint Intelligence Operations Center Europe (JIOCEUR) Analytic Center operated by theUS Defense Intelligence Agency and theJ2 Directorate which providesUS Africa Command with intelligence.[73] The station is supported by the USAF423rd Air Base Group (part of the501st Combat Support Wing).[61] |
| RAF Welford | England | Berkshire | Non-flying station used asammunition depot in support of bomber operating fromRAF Fairford. The station is operated by the USAF 420th Munitions Squadron (part of the501st Combat Support Wing).[74] |
Air weapons ranges (AWR) within the United Kingdom, previously operated by the Royal Air Force, are the responsibility of the Service Delivery (SD) part of theDefence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO).QinetiQ were awarded a three-year contract by the DIO in 2010 to manage the ranges, but this role was taken over by Landmarc Support Services (part ofInterserve) in 2014 as part of a contract covering the wider MOD Defence Training Estate.[75][76]
| Name | Constituent country | County | Units and purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIO (SD)Cape Wrath | Scotland | Highland | Parented by DIO (SD) Tain. |
| DIO (SD)Donna Nook Air Weapons Range | England | Lincolnshire | Parented byRAF Coningsby. |
| DIO (SD)Holbeach Air Weapons Range | England | Lincolnshire | Parented byRAF Marham. |
| DIO (SD)Pembrey Sands Air Weapons Range | Wales | Carmarthenshire | |
| DIO (SD)Tain Air Weapons Range | Scotland | Highland | Parented byRAF Lossiemouth. |
Map of the United Kingdom showing active RAF stations, Ministry of Defence (MOD) airfields (non-Royal Navy or Army Air Corps), MOD air weapons ranges and RAF stations occupied by the United States Visiting Forces (USVF).
Flying Station
Training Station
Support Station
UK Air Surveillance And Control System Sites
Air Weapons Range
MOD Aeronautical Test and Evaluation Site
US Air Force InstallationThe United Kingdom operates Permanent Joint Operating Bases (PJOBs) in fourBritish Overseas Territories, namelyAscension Island, theSovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia inCyprus, theFalkland Islands andGibraltar.
The Falkland Islands also have three Remote Radar Heads, forming part of an early warning and airspace control network.[77][78]
The PJOBs contribute to the physical defence and maintenance of sovereignty of these British Overseas Territories and enable the UK to conductexpeditionary military operations.[79]
The Director of Overseas Bases,Strategic Command, controls and oversees the PJOBs.[80]
|
| Name | Country | Units and purpose |
|---|---|---|
| RAF Akrotiri |  Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia |
|
| RAF Ascension Island | Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha | Also known as Wideawake Airfield, this Permanent Joint Operating Base predominately operating as a staging post for theair-bridge between RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire and RAF Mount Pleasant in the Falkland Islands.[84] Also used by theUnited States Space Force (USSF) andNASA as a communications and satellite tracking station. |
| RAF Gibraltar |  Gibraltar | Permanent Joint Operating Base acting as a strategic staging airfield. Also functions asGibraltar International Airport which comprises a civilian passenger terminal operated byGovernment of Gibraltar.[85] |
| RAF Mount Pleasant |  Falkland Islands | Permanent Joint Operating Base opened in 1985 after theFalklands War.No. 905 Expeditionary Air Wing operates four permanently basedTyphoon FGR4s, oneVoyager KC2, oneA400M Atlas, and civilian-crewed support and search and rescue helicopters.[86][87][88] |
| RRH Byron Heights | Falkland Islands | Remote Radar Head located onWest Falkland.[89] |
| RRH Mount Alice | Falkland Islands | Remote Radar Head located onWest Falkland.[89] |
| RRH Mount Kent | Falkland Islands | Remote Radar Head located onEast Falkland.[89] |
TheRoyal Air Force has a presence at several overseas locations. Active military operations in theMiddle East are supported byExpeditionary Air Wings (EAW) which have been established at foreign airfields in theUnited Arab Emirates andQatar. The RAF has a presence within Eastern European countries on a rotational basis as part of NATO'sBaltic Air Policing and Southern Air Policing missions.No. 17 Test and Evaluation Squadron is located in the United States atEdwards Air Force Base in California, where test and evaluation of theF-35B Lighting II is undertaken.Donnelly Lines, a permanent UK military facility at a United Arab Emirates (UAE) air base, was opened most recently, in 2024.[90]
|
| Name | Country | Units and purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Ämari Air Base |  Estonia | The RAF has contributed toNATO'sBaltic Air Policing mission in Estonia on a rotational basis, most recently providingQuick Reaction Alert withTyphoon FGR4s in 2023.[91][92] |
| Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base |  Romania | The RAF has contributed to NATO's Southern Air Policing mission on a rotational basis, most recently providing Quick Reaction Alert withTyphoon FGR4s in 2024.[93] |
| Šiauliai Air Base |  Lithuania | The RAF has contributed to NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission in Lithuania on a rotational basis, most recently providing Quick Reaction Alert withTyphoon FGR4s in 2020.[94] |
| Keflavik Airport |  Iceland | The RAF has contributed to NATO'sIcelandic Air Policing mission on a rotational basis, most recently providing Quick Reaction Alert withF-35 Lightning IIs in 2024.[95] |
| Al Udeid Air Base |  Qatar | No. 83 Expeditionary Air Group was established in April 2006 as the headquarters for all RAF assets in the Middle East, and is responsible for UK air operations as part ofOperation Kipon andOperation Shader.[96] |
| Edwards Air Force Base |  United States | No. 17 Squadron formed at Edwards in April 2013 to test and evaluate theLockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II.[97] |
| Medicina Lines |  Brunei | British Army garrison and headquarters ofBritish Forces Brunei, home toNo. 230 Squadron.[98] |
| Troodos Station |  Cyprus | Signals intelligence gathering and radar station located in theTroodos Mountains, outside the Sovereign Base Areas. Operated by Golf Section of the Joint Service Signal Unit (Cyprus).[99] |
| Donnelly Lines, Al Minhad Air Base |  United Arab Emirates | No. 906 Expeditionary Air Wing was established in January 2013 to provide an air transport and refuelling hub in the Middle East.[100][101] A permanent British headquarters with accommodation and welfare facilities was opened in 2024 asDonnelly Lines.[102] |
Media related toRoyal Air Force stations at Wikimedia Commons
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