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 Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,827 Points: -13,348
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Within the 2018-21 timeframe 
Operations at RAF Mildenhall, home to Air Force special operations forces, air refueling tankers and 3,200 military personnel, will end and missions carried out there will be moved to other locations such as Germany and RAF Fairford. Two other facilities in the UK (RAF Alconbury and Molesworth) will also close as part of a consolidation effort. Most of the missions there will be moved to RAF Croughton.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon plans to station two squadrons of F-35's at RAF Lakenheath by 2020, which ensures the continuous presence of US air power in the UK.
The most important factor here is the effect on the local economy, (Mildenhall town in particular) and the job losses, house prices (as a lot will become vacant at once) etc with closure of a major base like this 
RAF Fairford is currently an inactive base utilized for numerous training missions with partner nations to include B-52, B-1, B-2, and other aircraft. It's future missions will include the RC-135 air refuelling tankers ex Mildenhall.
US FY18 Defense Budget allocated to the UK
RAF Fairford
European Infrastructure Consolidation - RC-135 Intel and Squad Ops Facility - $38m
European Infrastructure Consolidation - RC-135 Runway Overrun Reconfiguration - $5.5m
European Infrastructure Consolidation - RC-135 Infrastructure - $2.15m
RAF Lakenheath
Consolidated Corrosion Control Facility - $20m
F-35A F-15 Parking $10.8m
F-35A Flight Simulator Facility $22m
F-35A Field Training Detachment Facility - $12.492m
F-35A Infrastructure - $6.7m
F-35A 6-Bay Hangar $24m
F-35A Squadron Operations and AMU $41m
RAF Mildenhall - Nothing and the beginning of the end
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