| RAAF Base Edinburgh | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edinburgh,Adelaide,South Australia in Australia | |||||||||
 FiveP-8A Poseidons ofNo. 11 Squadron at RAAF Base Edinburgh. | |||||||||
 The crest of RAAF Edinburgh | |||||||||
| Site information | |||||||||
| Type | Military air base | ||||||||
| Owner | Department of Defence | ||||||||
| Operator |  Royal Australian Air Force | ||||||||
| Website | RAAF Base Edinburgh | ||||||||
| Location | |||||||||
  RAAF Base EdinburghYPED Location inSouth Australia | |||||||||
| Coordinates | 34°42′09″S138°37′15″E / 34.70250°S 138.62083°E /-34.70250; 138.62083 | ||||||||
| Site history | |||||||||
| In use | 22 March 1954[1] | ||||||||
| Garrison information | |||||||||
| Occupants |
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| Airfield information | |||||||||
| Identifiers | ICAO: YPED | ||||||||
| Elevation | 20 metres (67 ft)AMSL | ||||||||
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| Sources: AustralianAIP and aerodrome chart[2] | |||||||||
RAAF Base Edinburgh (ICAO:YPED) is aRoyal Australian Air Force (RAAF)military airbase located inEdinburgh approximately 28 km (17 mi) north ofAdelaide,South Australia, Australia and forms part of the Edinburgh Defence Precinct.
Edinburgh is one of two defence 'super bases' inAustralia, home to over 3,500 personnel from both theRoyal Australian Air Force and theAustralian Army. The base is home toNo 92 Wing and theirBoeing P-8 Poseidonmaritime patrol aircraft that conduct surveillance operations throughout Australia's region of interest. In addition,No. 9 Squadron at Edinburgh remotely pilot theRoyal Australian Air Force's fleet of drones, such as theNorthrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton, as well as a range of other undisclosed activities.
RAAF Edinburgh is notably home to theJindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN) Coordination Centre, theRAAF Air Warfare Centre, and the Australian Battlespace Surveillance Centre, making Edinburgh one of the most strategically important defence bases inAustralia. The base has over the past decade become home to elements of the1st Brigade of theAustralian Army.
The construction of RAAF Base Edinburgh commenced in 1953 and it was officially opened 22 March 1954 as a support base for weapons development at the joint UK-Australian Weapons Research Establishment (WRE) atWoomera andMaralinga.[1] The support base had previously been based at a small Edinburgh Airfield and atRAAF Base Mallala.[1][3] The base was located alongside the wartimeSalisbury Explosives Factory,[4] in open fields between the then country villages ofSalisbury (to the south) andSmithfield (to the north). At about the same time, the satellite town ofElizabeth was being established (to the east).
Support for WRE testing activities had greatly reduced by the late 1960s. In 1968,No. 11 Squadron relocated to Edinburgh operatingOrions.[1] In the late 1970s,No. 10 Squadron also operating Orions relocated to Edinburgh and a maritime patrol wingNo. 92 Wing was established at Edinburgh making it the primary base for Australia's maritime reconnaissance operations.[1] RAAF Base Edinburgh has since been home to No 1 Recruit Training Unit, the Institute of Aviation Medicine (AVMED) and theAircraft Research and Development Unit (ARDU).[5]
Originally, RAAF Edinburgh and the DSTO were located in Salisbury, (subsequently the suburb of Salisbury –Postcode 5108), in theCity of Salisbury. In 1997, the Department of Defence decided to rationalise the then "DSTO Salisbury" site and sell off about 70% of the site, and surrounding "Defence-owned"Crown land, to form the "Edinburgh Parks" industrial estate. The suburb of Salisbury was split in two, with the part containing the RAAF Base and DSTO renamed "Edinburgh" (after the RAAF Base). The new suburb was assigned the Postcode 5111.
On 5 December 2003, stage one of the redevelopment of the base was opened including facilities for the newly formedAerospace Operational Support Group, and for theAircraft Research and Development Unit which had relocated from DSTO Salisbury, and forDefence Materiel Organisation units - the Maritime Patrol System Program office and the Aeronautical Life Support Logistics Management Unit.[6]
In August 2012, stage two of the redevelopment of the base was completed including a new air traffic control tower and facilities forNo. 462 Squadron, which had relocated from Canberra, and forNo. 87 Squadron.[7][8]
On 19 November 2017, the Defence Minister announced that the base would be upgraded to operate the P-8A Poseidon including new facilities, infrastructure and airfield works with a strengthened and extended runway (by 275 metres (902 ft)).[9][10][11]
In November 2019, the base held the 'Edinburgh Air Show 2019' over two days the 9th and 10th.[12]
In May 2023, it was revealed that the16th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery would be relocating from theirWoodside Barracks to purpose-built facilities at Edinburgh once completed, to accommodate the newNASAMS ground-based air defence systems.[13]
On 5 September 2024, construction began on a $200m 'Deep Maintaince and Modification Facility' at Edinburgh to support the long-term maintaince, sustainment, and modification of theRoyal Australian Air Force'sP-8A Poseidon andE-7A Wedgetail fleet. Expected completion in 2026.[14]
In 2016 concerns were raised aboutperfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) andperfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), used in fire fighting foams at the base until 2004, being found in groundwater at the base and in nearby wetlands.[15][16] A 2014 report from theUnited States Environmental Protection Agency described PFOA and PFOS asemergent contaminants that are "extremely persistent in the environment and resistant to typical environmental degradation processes" and which consequently pose "potential adverse effects for the environment and human health" due to their toxicity, mobility, and ability tobioaccumulate.[17]
| Unit | Full name | Force Element Group | Aircraft | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HQ92WG | HeadquartersNo 92 Wing[18] | Surveillance and Response Group | ||
| 10SQN | No. 10 Squadron[18] | Surveillance and Response Group | AP-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft | |
| 11SQN | No. 11 Squadron[18] | Surveillance and Response Group | Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft | |
| 292SQN | No. 292 Squadron[18] | Surveillance and Response Group | Operational conversion unit | |
| 1RSU | No. 1 Remote Sensor Unit[18] | Surveillance and Response Group | Jindalee Operational Radar Network | |
| 453SQN EDN FLT | No. 453 Squadron Edinburgh Flight[18] | Surveillance and Response Group | Air traffic control | |
| 24SQN | No. 24 (City of Adelaide) Squadron[18] | Combat Support Group | Airbase support | |
| 3SECFOR SQN | No 3 Security Forces Squadron[18] | Combat Support Group | ||
| 1CCS EDN FLT | No 1 Combat Communication Squadron Flight Edinburgh[1] | Combat Support Group | ||
| 2EHS DET EDN | No 2 Expeditionary Health Squadron Detachment Edinburgh[1] | Combat Support Group | ||
| Headquarters Air Warfare Centre[18] | Air Warfare Centre | |||
| Air Force Ranges Directorate[18] | Air Warfare Centre | |||
| AWR | Air Force Air Weapon Ranges[18] | Air Warfare Centre | ||
| AFTRSQN | Air Force Test Range Squadron[18] | Air Warfare Centre | ||
| Live, Virtual and Constructive (LVC) simulation[18] | Air Warfare Centre | |||
| Information Warfare Directorate[18] | Air Warfare Centre | |||
| JEWOSU | Joint Electronic Warfare Operational Support Unit[18] | Air Warfare Centre | ||
| 87SQN | No. 87 Squadron[18] | Air Warfare Centre | ||
| 462SQN | No. 462 Squadron[18] | Air Warfare Centre | Cyber warfare/Information security | |
| AITU | Air Intelligence Training Unit[18] | Air Warfare Centre | ||
| Tactics and Training Directorate[18] | Air Warfare Centre | |||
| 88SQN | No. 88 Squadron[18] | Air Warfare Centre | ||
| Air Warfare School[18] | Air Warfare Centre | |||
| Test and Evaluation Directorate[18] | Air Warfare Centre | |||
| ARDU | Aircraft Research and Development Unit[18] | Air Warfare Centre | ||
| AWESQN | Air Warfare Engineering Squadron[18] | Air Warfare Centre | ||
| IAM | Institute of Aviation Medicine[18] | Air Warfare Centre | ||
| Cadet Units | ||||
| HQ6WG | 6 Wing - Headquarters[19] | Australian Air Force Cadets | Cadet Headquarters Unit | |
| 613SQN | 613 Squadron - Edinburgh[20] | Australian Air Force Cadets | Cadet Unit | |
The Hardened and Networked Army plan was announced in December 2005 to relocate elements of the Australian Army's 1st Brigade to RAAF Base Edinburgh which was later altered by the Enhanced Land Force plan released in August 2006 changing the mechanised infantry battalion to be relocated.[21][22] An extensive building program was undertaken to provide new working accommodation and joint Army and RAAF training facilities, a combined mess, fitness, health and community facilities.[23][22] On 9 September 2011, the new facilities were officially opened with the7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (7 RAR) a mechanised infantry battalion housed at Horseshoe Lines.[23][24] 7 RAR had relocated fromRobertson Barracks inDarwin earlier in the year in January.[23] The new facilities housed other relocated units including the102nd (Coral) Battery from8th/12th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, 9th Field Squadron from1st Combat Engineer Regiment, 1st Combat Services Support Team from 1st Combat Service Support Battalion and a detachment from Headquarters 1st Brigade.[23][25]
In November 2017, the1st Armoured Regiment relocated from Robertson Barracks to Chauvel Lines at RAAF Base Edinburgh as part of thePlan Beersheba reorganisation of the Army.[26][27] D Squadron had earlier relocated in January 2014.[28]
The following units are based at RAAF Base Edinburgh:[1]
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