RAF Spadeadam

RAF Spadeadam
Near Gilsland, Northumberland in England
RAF Spadeadam
'Si vis pacem para bellum'" (If you seek peace, prepare for war)
RAF Spadeadam is located in Cumbria
RAF Spadeadam
RAF Spadeadam
Location in Cumbria, England
RAF Spadeadam is located in the former City of Carlisle district
RAF Spadeadam
RAF Spadeadam
Location in the City of Carlisle district, Cumbria
Coordinates55°01′30″N 002°36′08″W / 55.02500°N 2.60222°W / 55.02500; -2.60222
TypeRoyal Air Force station
Area7,820 acres (3,165 ha)[1]
Site information
OwnerMinistry of Defence
OperatorRoyal Air Force
Site history
Built1955 (1955)
In use1957 – present
Garrison information
Current
commander
Wing Commander Andrew Tidmarsh BSc (Hons) MA MRes MSc RAF

RAF Spadeadam (pronounced "Spade Adam"[2]) (IATA: N/A, ICAO: EGOM) is a Royal Air Force (RAF) station in Cumbria, England, close to the border with Northumberland. It is the home of the 9,000 acre (36 km2) electronic warfare (EW) tactics range, making it the largest (by area) RAF base in the United Kingdom.[3] Its primary use is for EW training to the RAF and NATO allies.[4] The site and course of Hadrian's Wall runs a few miles south of the range.[5]

  1. ^ "Estate Baseline 2009" (PDF). 3 July 2009. p. 8. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  2. ^ Perry, Charles (26 April 1998). "Why Nigel Can't Spell". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 5 November 2019.; Lloyd, Chris (14 December 2017). "Cold spell means long johns are hot stuff". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  3. ^ Jennings, Gareth (8 November 2018). "RAF reforms 11 Group to counter new and evolving threats". janes.com. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  4. ^ UK Defence Statistics 2004. London: Ministry of Defence. 2004. p. 119. ISBN 0-11-773020-3.
  5. ^ "MoD Heritage Report 2011-2013" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. p. 8. Retrieved 6 July 2016.