The UK’s Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) has awarded two contracts worth £15m for two projects at Royal Air Force (RAF) Lossiemouth in Moray, north east Scotland, supporting the Typhoon aircraft at the base.
The RAF Lossiemouth station is a fast jet main operating base and is home to squadrons operating both the Typhoon and Tornado jets.
Project manager Jim Ellistone said: "DIO is currently undertaking a considerable amount of work at RAF Lossiemouth to support the three Typhoon squadrons now stationed here.
These two projects are completely new facilities and an important part of the overall Typhoon programme."
As part of the latest development, Henry Brothers received a contract worth more than £9m for an installed engine test facility to house aircraft undergoing testing following the repair or replacement of an engine.
The new facility will feature technology that will allow to keep the aircraft in place while the engine is running and an instant fire suppression system.
Moreover, it will include soundproofing technology in order to minimise engine noise to a safe level and deaden sound waves which could otherwise damage the aircraft.
Balfour Beatty Regional Construction received the second contract worth £6m to construct a Typhoon Propulsion Service Facility.
The new facility that comprises of a workshop and office space will allow Rolls Royce engineers to rebuild, support and supply the EJ200 engines used by 3 Typhoon Squadron.
It will feature a highly secure storage area for the engines in hermetically sealed weatherproof ‘engine pods’.
Ellistone added: "The Installed Engine Test Facility and Typhoon Propulsion Service Facility will assist and support all three squadrons by ensuring the jet engines can be fully maintained, repaired, replaced, and checked safely on the ground.
"This will ensure that they are running optimally, efficiently and above all safely before taking to the air."
Scheduled to begin shortly, the projects are expected to complete by autumn 2016.
Image: An 11 Squadron Typhoon from Royal Air Force Coningsby accelerates and climbs rapidly during a training sortie. Photo: courtesy of Crown Copyright / SAC Andrew Seaward.
