A three-year £100 million (US$130 million) program to rebuild the base for the UK’s Merlin anti-submarine helicopter fleet has broken ground.
The project’s first phase at Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Culdrose in Cornwall is building a new air engineering training school, a new hangar and refurbishing existing buildings for 820 Naval Air Squadron, the helicopter unit dedicated to protecting the navy’s aircraft carrier strike groups.
The first phase is scheduled for completion in the spring of 2028. Kier Construction is carrying out the building work and Mott MacDonald will provide technical services.
Later projects planned over the next ten years for RNAS Culdrose, which are still to be finalised and awarded contracts, will involve the extensive rebuilding of the living quarters including new messes and wardroom.
Captain Stuart Irwin, the air station’s commanding officer said, “This project marks the start of an exciting regeneration and investment in RNAS Culdrose with modern facilities. The Engineering Training School is at the heart of our operations to maintain the Merlin helicopter fleet. Our young people, many of whom are just at the start of their naval careers, will learn how to maintain aircraft in a high-tech and modern teaching environment.
“The refurbishment of aircraft hangars and buildings at 820 Naval Air Squadron is another significant investment. It will provide us with more suitable and sustainable places to operate Merlin Helicopter Force now, and into the future.”
The work is being managed by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), whose programme director Daniel Ross, said: “I’m delighted that we can celebrate this significant milestone at RNAS Culdrose, marking the next phase of collaboration with our suppliers and the Royal Navy. Building on the sustainable designs already delivered, the project will continue to contribute towards Defence’s net-zero targets and ultimately enhance our military capability.”
