RAF Akrotiri: The base in Cyprus supporting vital operations in the Middle East
The Air Officer Commanding No 1 Group has reaffirmed the strategic importance of RAF Akrotiri during a visit to Cyprus.
Air Vice Marshal Mark Jackson spent time speaking to personnel at the UK's busiest overseas airbase.
The trip provided the senior officer with valuable insight into deployed life and an opportunity to report back to the UK about the airbase's needs.
Supporting security
AVM Jackson's visit highlighted the importance of RAF Akrotiri as the global spotlight focuses on the wider region.
Six F-35B Lightning stealth fighters from RAF Marham were deployed to the airbase earlier this month, a movement the MOD said was to support security and stability in the Middle East.
AVM Jackson said: "It's incredibly important that we maintain a location in the Mediterranean which gives us flexibility to support operations."
RAF Akrotiri sits at the crossroads of the Middle East, Africa and Europe.
Op Shader and the fight against IS
The UK has been supporting the global coalition fight against so-called Islamic State under the banner of Operation Shader since 2014.
In early January, RAF Typhoons conducted joint strikes alongside French aircraft against an underground weapons facility in Syria.
IS was largely defeated in 2019, but pockets of fighters continue to cause issues across the Middle East and AVM Jackson said the group presented a direct threat to the UK.
He added: "It's incredibly important that we continue to conduct operations with our international partners… and therefore we're protecting people back in the UK."
Force generation and putting Nato first
The Air Officer Commanding No 1 Group's brief includes most of the RAF's frontline-facing force elements, including fighter jets and supporting aircraft.
Alongside the Typhoons and F-35s, air-to-air refuelling Voyager and tactical airlift Atlas aircraft are based at RAF Akrotiri.
Asked about his priorities leading No 1 Group, AVM Jackson said: "It's very much about focusing on operations now, and then force generating for the future.
"[There is a] big focus at the moment on our support to Nato and Nato first."
Supporting the people at Akrotiri
More than 4,000 serving personnel and their families are based with British forces Cyprus at RAF Akrotiri.
During his visit, AVM Jackson inspected both old and newer accommodation primarily used by personnel deployed on operations for less than six months.
"How do we improve their lived experience, understanding their point of view and the sort of things that we can try and make better for them?" he asked.
He said the visit gave him the opportunity to report back to the UK on infrastructure and accommodation – as well as on operations.
"I've been struck [by] the level of support that the Sovereign Base Areas and the station provide to our people," he said.
"I'm really thankful for that."
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