A RAF unit is to be reformed in Moray three months ahead of the planned schedule with the arrival expected in January of Number II (Army Co-operation) Squadron.
Also known simply as 2 Squadron, the reformation had not been expected to take place until the spring – however, the Ministry of Defence have confirmed that it has been brought forward to January.
Reformed with Typhoons the unit will join 1 Squadron and 6 Squadron already operating from the Moray base as a result of it being saved from closure in 2011 and subsequently undergoing an £85million facilities upgrade.
Work already carried out in the transformation of RAF Lossiemouth was recently given a royal seal of approval with a visit by HM The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.
It was initially thought that the first personnel from 2 Squadron would arrive in Moray at the end of March but that has now been brought forward to January 9.
Moray’s MP Angus Robertson, who is the SNP spokesman on Defence issues at the UK Parliament, welcomed the news, saying: “I know that 2 Squadron will be warmly welcomed to our community, who are hugely supportive of the military with long-standing defence links that have built up over decades.”
Mr Robertson added that the increase in personnel at Lossiemouth will be seen as good news for local businesses.
The new arrivals were last based at RAF Marham and flew their final operations in Afghanistan with their Tornado aircraft earlier this year.
The arrival of the squadron in January will see four squadrons operating from Moray, the three Typhoon units joining XV(R) Squadron’s Tornado aircraft.