RAF Spadeadam is the only Electronic Warfare Tactics facility in Europe where aircrews can practise manoeuvres and tactics against a variety of threats and targets that they face in contemporary warfare.
The facility attracts aircraft from the Armed Forces and NATO Forces.
RAF Spadeadam is the largest RAF Station covering 9600 acres, and run by a small team of RAF personnel, civil servants and contractors.
Wing Commander Matt Lawrence retook command of RAF Spadeadam for an unprecedented third time in 2023.
Prior to arriving back, he was posted to the Air and Space Warfare Centre as the RAF’s electromagnetic environment specialist. Wing Commander Lawrence became an electronic warfare instructor early in his career and has since specialised in strategic intelligence.
As a Tornado navigator he has had extensive experience flying over 2000 hours including flying up against Electronic Warfare threats systems.
RAF Spadeadam's first connection with modern defence came in the late 1950s when it was chosen as the site of the test establishment for the 'Blue Streak', Britain's intended Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM). Until then, the area had no activity at all and was referred to as the Spadeadam Waste.
The initial site was built by the Ministry of Aviation and was managed on their behalf by Rolls-Royce. It is their name that is most often associated with the early years of the Station.
In 1960 the Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile programme was cancelled but the project was immediately replaced by the European Launcher Development Organisation (ELDO), in which Britain joined with France and Germany to provide a European alternative to the American and Russian monopoly on satellite launchers.
In 1972 Britain withdrew from the European Launcher Development Organisation and the consortium withdrew from Spadeadam. At that point the site was handed over to the Proof and Experimental Establishment, for static firing and range activities.
In 1976 Spadeadam became a RAF Station and the location for Western Europe's first full scale Electronic Warfare Tactics Range, in January 1977.
1976 RAF Spadeadam opened.
2000 Following previous partnership with USAF, the base became solely RAF.
2015 A new Combined Single Living Accommodation Mess was opened.
