MP welcomes investment in RAF Shawbury
The major investment in one of the county's airbases has been welcomed by North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson.
Mr Paterson met with representatives of Airbus this week, which has won a £1.1 billion rotary wing contract to provide new aircraft to train future aircrew, including at RAF Shawbury.
The first military registered helicopters in the UK Military Flying Training System Project, a H135 Juno HT1 and a H145 Jupiter HT1, were flown in to the base earlier this year.
The helicopters have been awarded their Military Release to Service ahead of the planned April 2018 start of training.
As part of the contract, a new state-of-the-art training centre is being built at RAF Shawbury, which will host squadron and training functions.
The new development will include a training school and a refurbishment of hangars on the site.
It will also be home to cutting-edge new flight simulators to help boost the training of recruits.
The contract was awarded in May last year, via the Babcock-Lockheed Martin Ascent joint venture, which oversees MFTS, to supply rotary wing training – effectively helicopter training – to the armed forces until the early 2030s.
Mr Paterson said: "It is a massive investment and it is very good news.
"It will mean new aircraft. I pushed them hard on whether they will be quieter and if there will be more simulators.
"A lot of building work is going to happen in Shropshire, meaning more people. Not everyone is used to helicopters flying overhead. I was told they will be more efficient so overall it was a pretty positive meeting.
"I know people like coming here. People who have served at RAF Shawbury come back to Shawbury and buy houses.
"When I was canvassing in the last election an old station commander answered the door to me."
The Army, Royal Navy and RAF have been told to make cuts, as the Ministry of Defence attempts to make £20 billion of efficiency savings.
"There have been a lot of concerns about defence spending but this contract is positive and shows they see it as a vital part of military activity.
"It brings competition to the industry and it is good to have competition in helicopters," Mr Paterson added.
Warrant Officer Nick Williams, spokesman for the base, said: "RAF Shawbury is one of the largest employers in Shropshire and provides employment for local people as well as contributing to the local economy.
"The commencement of rotary flying training, delivered by the UK Military Flying Training System contract commencing in April 2018, will ensure that we remain part of Shropshire’s history well beyond 2030."
