RAF Buchan
Encyclopedia
RAF Buchan is a Royal Air Force
station near Peterhead
in Aberdeenshire
. It has been there since 1952, although the domestic site in Boddam is now closed. Until 2005 it was also home of one of the two Control and Reporting Centres for the United Kingdom
in the form of an impressive two story underground bunker (R3). As such it was responsible for coordinating all aspects of air defence as part of The United Kingdom Air Surveillance and Control System (UK ASACS).
The Type 92 radar, now operated remotely, is housed in a pressurized Radome. Until 1994 the base also operated a Type 80 radar and a Sperry TPS-34 amongst others.
In 1979 operations moved into interim facilities above ground whilst the 'R3' underground operations block was refitted, this involved the excavation of one side of the 'R3' and another bunker of similar size was constructed alongside to provide secure facilities for stand by generators, power cleaning and air filtration. The Buchan Interim Fit (BIF) building housed the GL-161 computer system associated with the TPS-34 radar, both acquired from No 1ACC.
Soviet aircraft transiting between Murmansk
in northern Russia and Cuba
were routinely intercepted and escorted by live armed fighter aircraft whenever they entered United Kingdom airspace. Following the collapse of the Warsaw Pact
, RAF Buchan took on the executive control of air defence in the UK's northern airspace, reducing RAF Saxa Vord
and RRH Benbecula
to Remote Radar Heads while Buchan became a Control Reporting Centre. Throughout the remainder of the station's lifetime its role was gradually sidelined in favour of the UK's other Control Reporting Centre at RAF Neatishead
.
In 2003 it was announced that permanently manned operations were to cease at RAF Buchan in 2005. At that time the Royal Air Force
's now obsolete Integrated Command and Control System would be switched off, and air defence functions would be taken over by the Universal Command and Control System at RAF Boulmer
and RAF Scampton
. Ultimately, however, Neatishead closed before Buchan following spending reviews.
Manned operations formally ceased at RAF Buchan on 26 November 2004 and the domestic site was officially downsized on 31 March 2005. A large part of the original site is now home to the 2nd Battalion, The Highlanders, Royal Regiment of Scotland, Army Cadet Force.
The domestic site was purcased in October 2005 by Military Asset Management Ltd with plans to revitalise the site for the benefit of the local economy.
In 2009 the Officers' Mess was converted into a four star hotel named Buchan Braes Hotel.
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
station near Peterhead
Peterhead
Peterhead is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is Aberdeenshire's biggest settlement , with a population of 17,947 at the 2001 Census and estimated to have fallen to 17,330 by 2006....
in Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
. It has been there since 1952, although the domestic site in Boddam is now closed. Until 2005 it was also home of one of the two Control and Reporting Centres for the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in the form of an impressive two story underground bunker (R3). As such it was responsible for coordinating all aspects of air defence as part of The United Kingdom Air Surveillance and Control System (UK ASACS).
The Type 92 radar, now operated remotely, is housed in a pressurized Radome. Until 1994 the base also operated a Type 80 radar and a Sperry TPS-34 amongst others.
In 1979 operations moved into interim facilities above ground whilst the 'R3' underground operations block was refitted, this involved the excavation of one side of the 'R3' and another bunker of similar size was constructed alongside to provide secure facilities for stand by generators, power cleaning and air filtration. The Buchan Interim Fit (BIF) building housed the GL-161 computer system associated with the TPS-34 radar, both acquired from No 1ACC.
Soviet aircraft transiting between Murmansk
Murmansk
Murmansk is a city and the administrative center of Murmansk Oblast, Russia. It serves as a seaport and is located in the extreme northwest part of Russia, on the Kola Bay, from the Barents Sea on the northern shore of the Kola Peninsula, not far from Russia's borders with Norway and Finland...
in northern Russia and Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
were routinely intercepted and escorted by live armed fighter aircraft whenever they entered United Kingdom airspace. Following the collapse of the Warsaw Pact
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Treaty Organization of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance , or more commonly referred to as the Warsaw Pact, was a mutual defense treaty subscribed to by eight communist states in Eastern Europe...
, RAF Buchan took on the executive control of air defence in the UK's northern airspace, reducing RAF Saxa Vord
RAF Saxa Vord
RAF Saxa Vord was a radar station operated by the Royal Air Force. It was situated on the island of Unst, one of the Shetland Islands in the north of Scotland. Its radar provided long-range coverage of the airspace to the North of Scotland...
and RRH Benbecula
RRH Benbecula
RRH Benbecula is a Remote Radar Head operated by the Royal Air Force in the Western Isles of Scotland.- Overview :RRH Benbecula operates a Type 92 long range surveillance radar, at Cleitreabhal a'Deas on North Uist. The radar, designed and built by Lockheed Martin is almost identical to the...
to Remote Radar Heads while Buchan became a Control Reporting Centre. Throughout the remainder of the station's lifetime its role was gradually sidelined in favour of the UK's other Control Reporting Centre at RAF Neatishead
RAF Neatishead
RRH Neatishead, is a Royal Air Force military radar station in the English county of Norfolk, East Anglia, and was established during the Second World War. It consists of the main technical site, and a number of remote, and sometimes unmanned sites....
.
In 2003 it was announced that permanently manned operations were to cease at RAF Buchan in 2005. At that time the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
's now obsolete Integrated Command and Control System would be switched off, and air defence functions would be taken over by the Universal Command and Control System at RAF Boulmer
RAF Boulmer
RAF Boulmer is a Royal Air Force station near Alnwick in Northumberland and is currently home to Aerospace Surveillance and Control System Force Command, Control and Reporting Centre Boulmer, the School of Aerospace Battle Management, No...
and RAF Scampton
RAF Scampton
Royal Air Force Station Scampton is a Royal Air Force station situated north of Lincoln in England, near the village of Scampton, on the site of an old First World War landing field.-First World War:...
. Ultimately, however, Neatishead closed before Buchan following spending reviews.
Manned operations formally ceased at RAF Buchan on 26 November 2004 and the domestic site was officially downsized on 31 March 2005. A large part of the original site is now home to the 2nd Battalion, The Highlanders, Royal Regiment of Scotland, Army Cadet Force.
The domestic site was purcased in October 2005 by Military Asset Management Ltd with plans to revitalise the site for the benefit of the local economy.
In 2009 the Officers' Mess was converted into a four star hotel named Buchan Braes Hotel.