RAF Lakenheath recommended for closure in report commissioned by US government
Written byLIZZY BUCHAN
The future of RAF Lakenheath is up in the air as a report commissioned by the US Government has recommended it for closure.
The report by thinktank RAND Corporation has suggested a range of cost-cutting measures in Europe to the US Department of Defense, including the closure of the US Air Force (USAF) base which has been operating at Lakenheath for more than seventy years.
Another option is moving the resident 48th Fighter Wing squadron to another air base and keeping RAF Lakenheath as an intelligence and communications centre.
RAND’s report is part of the US Department of Defense’s ongoing European Infrastructure Consolidation (EIC) review which could see swingeing cuts across the USAF’s European operation.
In its current state RAF Lakenheath costs the USAF around $211 million per year to run.
The report also suggests relocating some forces from nearby RAF Mildenhall but the base would remain open and continue to host the 100th Refuelling Wing.
RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall contribute an estimated £500 million annually to the local economy and residents are concerns about the impact the potential closure.
Cllr James Waters, leader of Forest Heath District Council, said: “It is the nature of defence to keep operational requirements constantly under review, something we understand from our long and close relationship with USAF Lakenheath and USAF Mildenhall.
“Changes do raise concern because so many local people are involved with the bases, but nothing is definite and we will deal with it if it happens. Our role is to drive economic growth and create resilience to help meet changes, so we will work alongside the bases to understand how we can help to develop new opportunities.”
A spokesperson for RAF Lakenheath said they were unable to comment on the report.
It was revealed last month that thousands of troops could leave both USAF bases this year as part of the US government’s sequestration programme which aims to reduce the number of global staff by 25,000 in the next five years.
Lakenheath is home to 5,000 servicement and women and 2,000 civilians, and Mildenhall to 3,000 military and more than 3,500 civilians.
This has been mentioned before ( as the article says ... ).
The resident 493rd FS has lost F-15's before, might lose more if plans push forward.
Closing the station and move some if not all it's assets to Spangdahlem might lead to some savings in money and personal.
It ( Spangdahlem ) certainly has room for it ....
Reportedly (but no clear source to link to), the mood in the US is changing towards leaving more assets in Europe. This of course as a result of the Russian annexation of Crimea and the fear Russia might be interested in more areas. Lakenheath Eagles were especially rumoured to be left, although unclear if that would be on Lakenheath or somewhere else.
Over the next couple of weeks we will probably hear more pleas to leave USAF/USAr assets in Europe especially in view of the Ukraine situation, but I wouldn't be surprised to see the US kind of setting up the old forward deployment strategy again, like the good old Coronet deployments. Quick Reaction deployments to NATO bases might be a cheaper option in the eyes of the budgeteers.
Not aviano but SPANGDHALEM CLOSURE as i understood
Read the article carefully. In order to save 2 billion USD anually, Lakenheath and Aviano are in focus for closure. So is the training Center at Grafenwoer wich is a quite important place were U.S. and foreign troops train heavily together for combat readiness.
Another Study considers moving the 52ndFW with F-16 into Aviano while closing Lakenheath at the same time. This would only save 200 million per year somehow.
Not aviano but SPANGDHALEM CLOSURE as i understood
Read the article carefully. In order to save 2 billion USD anually, Lakenheath and Aviano are in focus for closure. So is the training Center at Grafenwoer wich is a quite important place were U.S. and foreign troops train heavily together for combat readiness.
Another Study considers moving the 52ndFW with F-16 into Aviano while closing Lakenheath at the same time. This would only save 200 million per year somehow.
