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RAF personnel from the Force Protection Force will begin a new deployment to Cyprus during April 2022 and will become the new Force Protection unit for RAF Akrotiri.
The new Force Protection unit will provide security for RAF Akrotiri and the Salt Lake Site together with providing support to National and contingent operations as required. The Force Protection unit will be made up of RAF Force Protection personnel deploying to Cyprus on four month rotations and is the culmination of a long planned reorganisation of Force Protection measures for RAF Akrotiri.
"This is a fantastic opportunity for the Force Protection Force. We are looking forward to the deployment and working hard to prepare, so will be ready to begin work as soon as we arrive in Cyprus, providing security and protection to RAF Akrotiri and the Salt Lake Site"
Air Vice Marshal Suraya Marshall,
Air Officer Commanding Number 2 Group
The first deployment will be formed from personnel from 1 Squadron RAF Regiment based at RAF Honington. The new unit will work with the RAF Police and Military Working Dogs already based on the island to deliver Force Protection activities across the Akrotiri peninsular.
"Taking on the role of Force Protection will not only provide specialist protection for critical assets at this strategic airbase but will also offer greater opportunities to conduct experimentation and evaluation of cutting-edge capabilities."
Air Commodore Thompson,
Force Protection Force Commander
The new Force Protection unit will take over the security task that has previously been carried out by one of the resident Army Infantry battalions. The two army battalions will remain based in Cyprus where they will continue to provide the UK’s Regional Standby Battalion on rotation.