2016 has been another busy year at DIO, with a number of big projects and programmes progressing or completed. Let’s take a quick look back…
We completed the structure of a new hangar at RAF Brize Norton to house the RAF’s new A400M transport aircraft while they undergo maintenance and repairs. The hangar can hold three A400M aircraft at once, each of which has a wingspan of more than 42 metres.
![A Royal Air Force A400M Atlas aircraft at RAF Brize Norton on 18th Nov 2014. [Crown Copyright/MOD2014]](https://insideDIO.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2015/12/A400M-at-Brize-Norton.jpg)
![A400M hangar, RAF Brize Norton. [Crown Copyright/MOD2016]](https://insideDIO.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2016/12/MG_7276.jpg)
Also for the RAF, we’ve resurfaced the runway in Gibraltar.
We’ve also been progressing work to prepare RAF Marham for the new F-35B Lightning fighters jets. Some old facilities were demolished using a cutting-edge chemical process.
A £27m contract was awarded at the beginning of the month to build a new Squadron Headquarters. The F-35B is the most advanced aircraft ever built for the UK and will be based both at RAF Marham and on the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales.
![The first of the UK’s F-35B Lightning II jets to be flown to the UK. [Crown Copyright/MOD2016]](https://insideDIO.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2016/12/F35B.jpg)
![HMS Queen Elizabeth [CPOA( Phot) Thomas Tam McDonald, Crown Copyright/MOD2014]](https://insideDIO.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2015/02/20140704-HMS-Queen-Elizabeth-after-naming-ceremony-CPOAPhot-Thomas-Tam-McDonald.jpg)
We’ve also installed navigation lights on the approach to the harbour.
Work to ready RNAS Yeovilton to be the base for Wildcat helicopters belonging to both the Royal Navy and the Army Air Corps continues apace – look out for more on that on the blog in the next few weeks.
The Defence College of Logistics, Policing and Administration celebrated its ‘topping out’ back in May as the main college building reached its highest point. Our contactors Skanska celebrated with a Swedish tradition of hanging a fir tree over the building. The college will train personnel from all three services in policing, HR, transport, catering and supply functions.
A £23m project to provide new facilities for Typhoons and their pilots and ground crew at RAF Lossiemouth was completed ahead of schedule. This was particularly important as the Typhoons at RAF Lossiemouth provide the UK’s Quick Reaction Alert (North) capability, responding to possible threats in the air. The project also won the Energy award at the Sanctuary Awards earlier this month.
We’re reducing the size of the Defence built estate by 30% to make it more efficient and reinvesting the proceeds into existing assets to make them better. 91 sites which are surplus to requirements have been identified by the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force and now DIO is working to bring them to market.
DIO also gained a new Chief Executive this year. Graham Dalton joined us with plenty of infrastructure experience including seven years as Chief Executive of the Highways Agency. Graham has only been with us since October, but you can read his early reflections on his blog.
This is just a taster of what DIO’s been up to this year. Work continues for our staff supporting military training, providing accommodation and utilities, looking after the estate and in every other area of DIO’s vital work. There’s more to come in 2017 so stay tuned!
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