RAAF Base Edinburgh
| RAAF Base Edinburgh | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Characteristics | |
| ICAO code | YPED |
| Coordinates | |
| Height above MSL | 22 m (72 ft ) |
| Transport links | |
| Distance from the city center | 25 km north of Adelaide |
| Basic data | |
| opening | 1946 |
| operator | Royal Australian Air Force |
| Runways | |
| 04/22 | 1962 m × 45 m grass |
| 18/36 | 2560 m × 60 m asphalt |
RAAF Base Edinburgh ( ICAO : YPED ) is a military airfield of the Royal Australian Air Force , 25 km north of the center of Adelaide in the state of South Australia . It is home to the Australian Air Force's Lockheed AP-3C Orion and P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft .
history
The RAAF base Edinburgh is, together with the Defense Science and Technology Organization (DSTO) , on the site of a former ammunition factory called Salisbury from the time of the Second World War , which was in operation there from 1942 to 1945.
In 1946, the governments of Australia and the United Kingdom agreed on a joint project to test guided missiles and set up a long-range weapon training area. The Salisbury site was chosen as the headquarters and the test site was established in Woomera . The airfield was completed in 1954 and named after the Queen's consort, the Duke of Edinburgh . Prince Philipp personally opened the facility.
In the early years of weapons testing, more than 2,000 British military personnel were stationed in Edinburgh, Woomera and Maralinga . The last British soldier was not withdrawn until 1976. The first 15 members of the RAAF arrived with the establishment of the headquarters on January 17, 1955. From 1964 the 1st Recruit Training Unit moved from RAF Base Wagga to Edinburgh and in 1968 the first of ten P-3B Orions of the 11th Squadron landed on their new home airfield. Between 1978 and 1979, the 10th Squadron , which had been equipped with the predecessor model SP-2H Neptune and located in RAAF Base Townsville , received ten more Orions of the successor version P-3C. At the beginning of the millennium, the P-3C were modernized to the AP-3C.
Between 2008 and 2011, the base was expanded to accommodate the 7th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment of the Army, which was still stationed in Darwin and moved to Edinburgh in 2010/11. The Woomera site has also been modernized.
The 11th Squadron ended Orion flight operations in 2016 and a crew of the 11th Squadron transported the first copy of the successor P-8A Poseidon to Australia in November 2016. In March 2018, when six P-8A had been delivered, preliminary operational readiness was obtained.
Todays use
The main task of the two squadrons as part of the 92nd Squadron ( 92nd Wing ) is the surveillance of the entire Australian flight space over the mainland and the extensive sea areas around Australia. Occasionally, Australian maritime patrols have made it into the world press, mostly in connection with sailing events. For example, Edinburgh's crews discovered overturned single-handed yachts at the 1996/1997 edition of the Vendée Globe race and were also involved in the 1998 Sydney-Hobart regatta , which cost the lives of several sailors.
In addition to the two reconnaissance squadrons, the Aircraft Research and Development Unit , which is responsible for the further development of weapon systems, is in charge of some of the aircraft types in service in small numbers. This also includes helicopters from the Australian Army . Other aircraft types are borrowed from the squadrons.
In addition, there are a number of other regular units for performing the tasks of the base. These include the aeromedical institute and units for electronic warfare and information gathering. With the 24th (City of Adelaide) Squadron , a reserve unit is also stationed on the base, which employs a total of around 2000 soldiers and civilian employees. Administratively, RAAF Base Edinburgh is still subordinate to the Woomera test site .
In addition to the RAAF units, an association of the Australian Army is stationed here with the 7th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment .
future
The remaining P-3s are to be replaced by six MQ-4Cs from 2023 . The drones will be stationed in Edinburgh with RAAF Base Tindal as an advanced deployment base. A total of 346 AUD will be invested in both bases .
Individual evidence
- ↑ Major construction at SA RAAF base ( memento from October 6, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) on the homepage of the Australian Labor Party
- ^ First RAAF P-8A arrival marks beginning of a “5th gen maritime surveillance force”, Australian Aviation, November 16, 2016
- ↑ RAAF P-8As achieve IOC five months ahead of schedule, Janes, March 20, 2018
- ↑ Australia buys MQ-4C Triton, Flugrevue, June 27, 2018
