The position of the Royal AIr Force in Scotland has been secured for the forseeable future with the announcement that Leuchars in Fife will be home to the new Typhoon fighter. More than £100 million will be invested in the base, meaning a massive boost to the local economy.

Leuchars is currently home to the Tornado, since the 1980s the main multi-role combat aircraft of the RAF. The base has traditionally been
in the front line of defence against any potential enemy and it was from here that during the Cold War, many aircraft were scrambled if it was thought Soviet bombers were getting too close for comfort.

As the RAF takes delivery of its new fleet of state-of-the-art Typhoon  jets, the Tornado will be phased out. More than £100 million will be invested at Leuchars to accommodate the new jets.

Ian Smith, Lib Dem MSP for North East Fife, said: "I think there's always a question as to when the RAF is changing its aircraft fleet, as to where those fleet will be based, and it's absolutely delightful news for northeast Fife that the RAF sees RAF Leuchars as a key place for basing its most modern aircraft for the future."

The move will secure the future of about 1,500 RAF personnel at the base, as well as 200 civilian staff and associated contractors. It also secures the viability of the base for the foreseeable future.

The existing Tornados will be replaced by three squadrons of Typhoons, meaning Leuchars will continue to operate as a fighter base for the next four decades, up to 2050. The Tornado is scheduled to go out of service in March 2011 but will start to be replaced by the Typhoon in September  2010.