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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
National
Iona Young

Edinburgh RAF warplane armed with torpedos flies MSPs to top secret defence base

An RAF plane with weapons systems for antisubmarine warfare has flown MSPs from Edinburgh to Lossiemouth on February 20.

The Poseidon aircraft flew from Edinburgh Airport shortly before 9am on Monday morning carrying several MSPs from the capital to the RAF base.

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An avid plane spotter snapped the jet as it left the city and headed north. Images show the imposing plane on the runway before take off.

The trip was an operation to demonstrate the capability of the super aircraft while highlighting the role Lossiemouth plays in defending the UK.

The torpedo-carrying fleet has operated from Lossiemouth since 2020 and last year in August carried out its first search and rescue mission.

HM Coastguard had established that two Faroese crew members had taken to a life raft after their rowing boat capsized and sunk.

The crew of the Poseidon were able to communicate with a nearby merchant vessel and relay information back to UK mission controllers to help coordinate the rescue efforts.

The Boeing's Poseidon MRA1 (P-8A) is a multi-role maritime patrol aircraft, equipped with sensors and weapons systems for antisubmarine warfare, as well as surveillance and search and rescue missions.

An RAF spokesperson said: "A Poseidon MRA1 (P-8) visited Edinburgh on 20 February to collect MSPs and fly them to RAF Lossiemouth."

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They added: "This is part of an initiative to demonstrate the capability of the aircraft and highlight the role the station plays in the defence of the United Kingdom."

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