RRH Benbecula

Overview

RRH Benbecula is a Remote Radar Head operated by the Royal Air Force. Contrary to popular belief the head is not actually situated on the island of Benbecula but rather on the island of North Uist. Both islands are part of the Outer Hebridian chain of islands off of the west coast of Scotland.

RRH Benbecula operates a Type 92 radar designed and built by Lockheed Martin which is almost identical to the AN/FPS-117 radar used by the USA. The radar site also accommodates several types of VHF and UHF ground-to-air transmitters. A separate receiver site is situated at Benbecula Airport.

Whilst versions of the AN/FPS-117 are capable of detecting ballistic missiles the Type 92 does not have this capability and is only used for detecting aircraft.

A Remote Radar Head is a radar station which is monitored and controlled from a remote location. RRH Benbecula is still manned by RAF technicians to maintain the equipment.

RRH Benbecula's parent stations are RAF Boulmer and RAF Kinloss.

History

Military personnel have had a presence on the islands, once called RAF Benbecula, since the Second World War. At its peak several thousand troops were stationed at the base and several other sites around the islands.

After World War II the aircraft were withdrawn. The RAF continued operating from Benbecula, operating several radar types until the Type 92 came into service in the 1990s. The radar site was a manned radar station and a Control and Reporting Post for UK Air Surveillance, until it was converted to remote operation in the late nineties and the RAF pulled out of the main site at Benbecula.

The British Army also had a huge presence at Benbecula. They operated the artillery range at South Uist; this role was passed over to DERA (eventually to become QinetiQ) who still remain at the Benbecula and South Uist sites.

ee also

*Royal Air Force
*RRH Saxa Vord
*RRH Portreath
*RRH Buchan
*List of RAF stations

External links

* [http://www.lockheedmartin.com/products/FPS117/index.html/ Lockheed Martin FPS117 page]
* [http://www.raf.mod.uk/ RAF Homepage]
* [http://www.raf.mod.uk/careers/ RAF Careers Homepage]