Leuchars Station

The Royal Air Force station at Leuchars opened on 16 March 1920, although its association with the military can be traced back to 1911 when military balloons were operated at the site. During its history the site was used as a RNAS fleet fighter station and later as a RAF Coastal Command airfield. Throughout the Cold War and beyond, the station was home to fighter aircraft which policed northern UK airspace. The station also hosted an annual International Airshow.

On 18 July 2011, Defence Secretary Liam Fox announced that RAF Leuchars would close as part of the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2010, with the station being transferred to British Army control in 2015 and the Typhoon aircraft based at Leuchars moving to RAF Lossiemouth in Moray.[1]

In preparation for the closure, RAF Leuchars Mountain Rescue Team disbanded in November 2013 whilst No. 58 Squadron of the RAF Regiment and No. 6 Force Protection Wing disbanded on 10 May 2014.[2] No. 6 Squadron was the first Typhoon unit to depart Leuchars, heading for its new home at Lossiemouth in June 2014.[3][4] No. 1 Squadron followed on 8 September 2014, at which point responsibility for Quick Reaction Alert (North) was transferred from Leuchars to Lossiemouth.[5]

Control of Leuchars was transferred to the British Army on 31 March 2015, when it was renamed Leuchars Station.[6] The term 'station' was used as the size of the installation is smaller than a garrison but larger than a barracks and to reflect the range of army and RAF occupants.[7] The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards gradually relocated from Germany in the spring and summer of 2015 along with 2 Close Support Battalion of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and 110 Provost Company, Royal Military Police.[8] The transition from RAF to Army control was considered to have gone smoothly by Fife Council in terms of its impact on the local community.[9]

In February 2018, local Councillors suggested that the name of the installation be changed as it could be confused with Leuchars Railway Station.[9]

RAF Typhoon FGR4 aircraft and the Quick Reaction Alert (Interceptor) North capability operated from Leuchars between 10 August and the week commencing 16 October 2020 whilst the intersection of RAF Losisemouth's two runways was resurfaced.[10][11]

A Jackal 2 armoured wheeled vehicle as used by the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards based at Leuchars

The primary Army unit based at Leuchars is the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards. It is a cavalry regiment which specialises in the reconnaissance role. It is equipped with the Jackal 2 armoured fighting vehicle and the Coyote tactical support vehicle.[13]

Other army units included 2 Close Support Battalion of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) and 110 Provost Company of the Royal Military Police.[14]

The station continues to be home to several RAF units, including No. 612 (County of Aberdeen) Squadron RAuxAF, the East of Scotland Universities Air Squadron incorporating No. 12 Air Experience Flight, and the headquarters of Scotland and Northern Ireland Region and South East Scotland Wing of the Air Training Corps.

The airfield is maintained by the RAF as a diversion airfield for military aircraft.[15]

2 Close Support Battalion REME is expected to relocate from Leuchars to Catterick Garrison in Yorkshire from 2030 under Army 2020 Refine proposals. The is planned to merge the battalion with with 27 Regiment of the Royal Logistic Corps as part of a Strike Brigade.[21]

In late October 2020, it was confirmed by the Ministry of Defence that they were looking into increasing both civilian and military usage of the airfield at Leuchars with the re-installation of F34 fuel facilities, however there would be no aircraft based permanently.[22]