RAF Fylingdales in North Yorkshire provides a continuous ballistic missile early warning service to the UK and US Governments, ensuring a surprise missile attack cannot succeed.
The RADAR is capable of tracking objects including satellites and debris, 3000 miles into space.
Approximately 320 Service Personnel, Ministry of Defence Police, and civilian staff work on site.
RAF Fylingdales falls under UK Space Command.
"We are watching"
Thom Colledge grew up in Holland and joined the RAF in 2002 as an Air Operations specialist. Thom has worked as an airfield operations manager at busy Stations including, Valley, Benson and Lyneham, he brings a wealth of experience to the role of Station Commander that includes operational deployments to Afghanistan working with the Army and Special Forces.
A French speaker, Thom attended Advanced Staff College l'Ecole de Guerre, prior to a 3-year exchange as operational planner within the French MOD.
The Ballistic Missile Early Warning System is a partnership between the US and UK.
The early 1960s saw two RADARs operational at Thule in Greenland and Clear in Alaska. To complete the overlapping coverage a third station in England was agreed.
The site on the North York Moors was selected and work began in 1960. The construction of the iconic golf balls was completed and operational in September 1963. However, with advances in technology the RADAR system was upgraded in 1990 and the Solid State Phased Array Radar was declared operational in October 1992.
