Scots airbase 'safe until 2050'

RAF Leuchars will see the arrival of the Eurofighter

The future of RAF Leuchars, in Fife, has been secured for the next 40 years, the base commander has said.

Air Commodore Clive Bairsto, also said up to £100m would be invested there over the next decade.

RAF Leuchars, along with Coningsby, in Lincolnshire, will accommodate the RAF's new Eurofighter, which will start to replace the Tornado in 2010.

It would secure the jobs of about 1,500 air force personnel at the base as well as 200 civilian staff and contractors.

Air Commodore Bairsto said three squadrons, each containing 16-18 pilots, would be moving to Fife.

Leuchars, he added, would continue to operate as a fighter base up to 2050.

About £80-£100m is to be spent on rebuilding the station for the new aircraft.

The Typhoon was also described as being "much quieter" during take-off and landing than the Tornado, which is scheduled to go out of service in March 2011.

The Ministry of Defence said one squadron at RAF Leuchars would go as a result of the changes, with the loss of 80 jobs.

The RAF said it hoped the cuts could be achieved through redeployment.