MoD Woodbridge

Ministry of Defence Woodbridge or MOD Woodbridge is a military installation located near the town of Woodbridge, in Suffolk, England. The site opened in 2006 and is operated by the British Army and incorporates both Rock Barracks and Woodbridge Airfield. The barracks are home to 23 Parachute Engineer Regiment of the Royal Engineers. The airfield is used periodically by helicopters of the Army Air Corps for training exercises.

The site was previously known as RAF Woodbridge and had periods where it was operated by the Royal Air Force and United States Air Force. The RAF station closed in August 1993.

RAF Woodbridge
Constructed in 1943 as a Royal Air Force (RAF) airfield during the Second World War to assist damaged aircraft to land on their return from raids over Germany, it was later used by the United States Air Force during the Cold War, being the primary home for the 79th Tactical Fighter Squadron and the 78th Tactical Fighter Squadron and squadrons of the 81st Fighter Wing under various designations until 1993. For many years, the 81st Fighter Wing also operated from nearby RAF Bentwaters, with Bentwaters and Woodbridge being known as the "Twin Bases". The RAF station closed in August 1993.

Reactivation
In 2001, the Ministry of Defence announced that £100 million would be invested in the Woodbridge site in order to accommodate British Army personnel. Due to budgetary constraints and commitments to Operation Telic (the UK's contribution to the Iraq War), the start of work at Woodbridge was delayed until January 2004.

On 1 September 2006, the former Woodbridge site was split up and the two parts renamed as Woodbridge Airfield and Rock Barracks.

Royal Engineers
23 Parachute Engineer Regiment is a Royal Engineers regiment in the British Army that was formed in 2003. It provides engineering support to 16 Air Assault Brigade in both the parachute and air assault role. It is the army's only airborne engineer regiment and consists of three regular and one reserve squadron. As part of 16 Air Assault Brigade it can be called upon to deploy on operations across the globe.

Around 500 army personnel are based at Woodbridge.

Airfield
Woodbridge Airfield is used by Army Air Corps helicopters for training exercises.

During August 2016, the airfield was used for testing the Airbus A400M Atlas.

Based units
The following notable units are based at Rock Barracks.

British Army
Royal Engineers (16 Air Assault Brigade)


 * 23 Parachute Engineer Regiment
 * 12 Parachute Headquarters and Support Squadron
 * 9 Parachute Squadron
 * 51 Parachute Squadron
 * 299 Parachute Squadron (Army Reserve)

Future
In November 2016, the Ministry of Defence announced that MOD Woodbridge would close by 2027.