RAF Marham Runway Ready For F35B Lightning II

RAF Marham has been getting ready for the new F35B fighter jets to arrive in the UK this week.

In preparation for their arrival, the base has completed resurfacing work on their secondary runway.

The first F-35 Lightning will be touching down at their new home at RAF Marham - and will be operated by both the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy.

Preparations are on track for the aircraft to be deployed from RAF Marham and to be deployed from operating bases by the end of the year.

They will also deploy to the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers.

The resurfacing work was undertaken by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) through its contractors, a joint venture of Galliford Try and Lagan Construction.

It forms part of a £250 million DIO programme of investment at the station and involves resurfacing about 90% of the airfield operating surfaces - all while the Tornado Force maintained operations from the airfield.

Rob Dawson, DIO’s Principal Project Manager, said:

"The completion of the resurfacing of the secondary runway is one a series of milestones for the work DIO and our contractors are undertaking to prepare RAF Marham to be the main operating base for the new F-35B aircraft.

"Along with work being completed by our colleagues at Defence Equipment and Support, this investment will transform RAF Marham with a host of new and upgraded facilities for the aircraft and the men and women who will operate them."

RAF Marham Station Commander Group Captain Ian Townsend said the Tornados have already taken off from the resurfaced runway.

"To see the Tornado’s take off from it for the first time was a real milestone in the programme

Group Captain Townsend added: "F-35’s will touch down on the new runway as it arrives at its home base for the first time."

RAF Marham is currently the home of the RAF’s Tornado fleet, which have begun operating from the runway before being joined by the F-35s in due course. 

Whilst resurfacing work was taking place, flying was halted for three weeks while construction teams were working between the main runway and the secondary runway.

The remainder of the work being undertaken at RAF Marham continues, including construction of three vertical landing pads to enable the F-35s to use their vertical landing capability and a squadron headquarters for 617 Squadron (The Dambusters).

Other work includes a high voltage power upgrade, refurbishment of 12 Hardened Aircraft Shelters and a small gym and canteen as well as a hangar, offices and technical facilities for 207 Squadron.