After nearly three years of preparations, the first of the UK’s new fleet of submarine-hunting surveillance touched down in Moray.
Pride of Moray, the first of the P-8 Poseidons to arrive, was flanked by Typhoon fighter jets as it approached its temporary home at Kinloss Barracks.
The arrival was hailed as “game-changing” for the region with 500 extra personnel eventually due to be posted to RAF Lossiemouth – taking the base’s compliment to more than 3,000.
Meanwhile, across the Atlantic the second Poseidon, christened City of Elgin, was also due to be delivered to UK crews stationed in Florida the same day.
Eventually nine of the aircraft, valued at a collective £3 billion, will be tasked with patrolling the seas from the sky to track potential dangers lurking under the surface.
Major General Seymour Monro, the Lord-Lieutenant of Moray, was among the first to welcome the crews during a piper salute of Scotland the Brave.
He said: “It’s a historic day for the UK and Moray. Seeing these tremendous aircraft flying overhead will become the new normal for us all.
“It’s tremendous to have the crews, and in time, their families here too. The military contributes so much to Moray and, of course, we will benefit from having them here, like the contractors now building the new home for these fantastic aircraft.”
The Poseidon fleet is expected to be based at Kinloss until October while a £75 million project to resurface the runway and taxiways is undertaken at RAF Lossiemouth.
The revamp is part of a Military of Defence investment of nearly £500 million in the base, including a new air traffic control tower, new personnel accommodation and upgraded drainage, also aimed at benefitting Typhoon jets on the UK’s front line of defence.
Scotland Office minister Douglas Ross, who also serves as Moray MP, said: “This is a massive boost to Moray, bringing jobs and investment to the area, as well as an influx of more than 500 personnel supporting the P-8 squadrons who will be living and working here.”
The new crews in Moray will begin drills next week to hone their skills flying the UK’s newest defence aircraft.
Each plane will be equipped with 129 sonobuoys, which are dropped into the ocean and act as microphones to detect noises from submarines.
Wing Commander James Hanson, officer commanding 120 Squadron, explained his role was to turn newly skilled personnel into a “fighting unit” over the coming months.
He said: “The initial cohort we have are hugely experienced. We’ve done that deliberately so that when we get young people in we can pass on that experience.
“The aircraft itself is extremely well connected. We can talk to commanders anywhere in the globe, whether they’re on land, sea or airborne.”
