The Station

Ascension Island Base sits under the UK STRATCOM Chain of Command and is in the South Atlantic Ocean, near the equator, strategically positioned approximately 4,000 miles from both the UK and the Falkland Islands.

The role of the Station is to deter military aggression against the UK’s South Atlantic Overseas Territories in order to maintain UK sovereignty.

It serves as a staging post for flights between the UK and the Falklands with an approximate flight time of 8 hours. 

With a runway length of 10,019ft the airfield has the capability to support all types of aircraft. The airfield (called Wideawake Auxiliary Airfield by the US) is jointly operated and managed by US and UK authorities.

The Station also supports regular flights between America and Africa.

Commander

Wing Commander Kim Surman RAF

Wing Commander Surman took up command of Ascension Island Base in September 2022. Prior to this she completed staff roles at NATO Air Command, most recently she was COS to the 2* Air Commander during the Ukrainian crisis.

Kim was commissioned in 2001 and is an Air Operations (Systems) Officer whose service has principally been in the Fast Jet and Air Mobility environment, during this time she has deployed multiple times to Bosnia, Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan.

Address

RAF Ascension Island Base, BFPO 677.