RRH Benbecula | |
|---|---|
| North Uist,Outer Hebrides in Scotland | |
 Radar dome at RRH Benbecula | |
 | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Remote Radar Head |
| Owner | Ministry of Defence |
| Operator | Royal Air Force |
| Controlled by | Air Command and Control Force |
| Condition | Operational |
| Radar type | Lockheed Martin AN/TPS-77 (Type 92) Air Defence Radar |
| Location | |
  RRH Benbecula Shown within the Outer Hebrides | |
| Coordinates | 57°37′02″N007°26′46″W / 57.61722°N 7.44611°W /57.61722; -7.44611 |
| Area | 6 hectares (15 acres)[1] |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1980 (1980) |
| In use | 1980–present |
| Garrison information | |
| Occupants | Radar Flight (North) |
Remote Radar Head Benbecula orRRH Benbecula, is an air defence radar station operated by theRoyal Air Force. It is located at Cleitreabhal a'Deas, 17 kilometres (11 mi) fromLochmaddy on the isle ofNorth Uist in theOuter Hebrides of Scotland.
The radar site was previously known asRAF Benbecula, the name having previously been associated with an RAF airfield on the island ofBenbecula (now known asBenbecula Airport) and a nearby weapons testing range (now known as MoD Hebrides).
AlthoughBenbecula Airport is now a civilian airfield, a military presence remained and the RAF Benbecula name continued when a radar station was established.[2] A control and reporting centre, part of the UK Air Surveillance And Control System (ASACS), was constructed at the airfield which linked it toRAF Buchan inAberdeenshire.[3]
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 toRAF Boulmer inNorthumberland in September 2004.[4]
Benbecula operated several radar types until the Type 92 (more widely known out-with RAF service as theLockheed MartinAN/FPS-117 ) 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 bywind farm developers and was installed in order to help reduce the impact ofinterference from wind turbines.[4][5][6]
TheBritish Army also had a large presence in the Outer Hebrides, operating the Deep Sea Range onSouth Uist. This role was passed to theDefence Evaluation and Research Agency (eventually to becomeQinetiQ), who remain at the Benbecula and South Uist sites, collectively known asMOD Hebrides.[7]
The radar collects data as part of the UK Air Surveillance And Control System (ASACS) based atRAF Boulmer. From there the station is monitored and controlled to support the creation of therecognised air picture for the United Kingdom.[6][8] The radar site also accommodates several types of VHF and UHF ground-to-air transmitters.[9]
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.[8]
As part of a major upgrade of RRH sites around the UK the MOD began a programme titled HYDRA in 2020 to install new communications buildings, radar towers and perimeter security.[10][11]
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| UK radar stations |
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| Notes | 1: Still in RAF use as a bombing range | |||||
