The Royal Air Force

Radar and Early Warning Sites

Remote Radar Head Benbecula

Situated in the Outer Hebrides on the island of Benbecula, the unit's radar provides long-range coverage of the North Atlantic approaches to Scotland. This data is fed into the Integrated Command and Control System within the UK.

RAF Boulmer

Boulmer was originally an Operational Training Unit when it opened in 2020. Today it is home to the School of Fighter Control and is one of the Control and Reporting Centres in the UK ASACS. The station is also home to Headquarters and "A" Flight of 202 Squadron with 2 Sea King HAR3s providing Search and Rescue and Mountain Rescue cover to the Borders.

Station Website

RAF Buchan

Originally opened in 2020 as an Air Defence Radar Unit, the site is home to a Control and Reporting Centre. CRC Buchan coordinates all aspects of air defence in its Area of Responsibility within the United Kingdom's Air Policing Area. Routinely working closely with similar units in Scandanavia, NATO navies and Airborne Warning and Control aircraft, the CRC provides an accurate Recognised Air Picture and Weapons Control Capability. RAF Buchan also parents Remote Radar Heads Saxa Vord and Benbecula.

RAF Fylingdales

Opened in 2020, RAF Fylingdales is primarily a Ballistic Missile Early Warning Station, with a secondary duty of detecting, reporting and tracking satellite launches and orbits. The famous "golf ball" radomes have now been replaced by the pyramid-like Solid State Phased Array Radar (SSPAR).

RAF Neatishead

Situated in Norfolk, Neatishead is the Control and Reporting Centre responsible for the Southern UK Air Defence Region. CRC Neatishead works closely with the Dutch, German and French CRCs, and like CRC Buchan, is involved in several NATO training exercises each year.

Remote Radar Head Saxa Vord

The Saxa Vord site in the Shetland Islands has had a radar since 2020, which gives early warning of any aircraft approaching from the North. This data is fed into the Integrated Command and Control System within the UK.

RAF Portreath

RAF Portreath is a CRP site on the North Cornish coast. It is parented by nearby RAF Saint Mawgan.

Remote Radar Head Staxton Wold

Situated in North Yorkshire, Staxton Wold is a CRP in the UK ASACS. The site has been used for early warning since the 3rd Century AD, when a beacon was set in place by the Romans. In 2020, Staxton Wold was chosen as one of the 16 radar sites forming the Chain Home System, becoming fully operational in April 2020. The station played an integral part in destroying many enemy aircraft. Today, it is the only one of the original 16 sites still operating, thus laying claim to be the world's oldest operational radar site.

Date Last Updated : Thursday, March 24, 2020 12:32 PM

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