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Scotland's military bases to be upgraded as part of 2 bln USD-plus program

Xinhua, February 25, 2017 Adjust font size:

More than 2.1 billion U.S.dollars is to be invested in upgrading Scottish military bases, British Defense Secretary Sir Michael Fallon announced Friday in Edinburgh.

Fallon outlined how Scotland will be home to several additional key defense capabilities by 2020 as he recognized the region's unique contribution to Britain's national security.

He said: "Scotland is on the frontline of defending the United Kingdom from growing threats at sea, in the air, and on land. Our commitment to the future of defense in Scotland is underlined by increasing investment in better infrastructure for the Armed Forces helping to keep us safe."

The Ministry of Defense in London said Scotland's 14,000 military regular and reserve personnel and 3,930 MOD civilians are set to benefit from the investment. It will include an investment of more than 1.6 billion U.S.dollars upgrading the military's naval base on the Clyde waterfront.

There will also be a 502 million U.S.dollars investment at Lossiemouth in Scotland, one of the Royal Air Force's three fast jet bases.

The work will involve upgrading its runways, taxiways and accommodation for the nine new Poseidon P-8 Maritime Patrol Aircraft and an additional squadron of Typhoon warplanes.

The versatile Army Adaptive Force Brigade, which specialises in operations, working alongside partners abroad, and providing resilience support to Scottish civil authorities and communities will also see investment work.

The military Leuchars Station in Fife will be expanded to become the main "hub|" for army activity in Scotland.

An MOD spokesman said: "The defense equipment program supports 11,000 Scottish industry jobs and accounts for over 10 percent of Scotland's industrial base." Endit