RAF Bempton

RAF Bempton was closed due to military modernization and the end of the Cold War. The radar systems it operated, part of the Linesman/Mediator network, became obsolete and were superseded by the more advanced IUKADGE (Improved UK Air Defence Ground Environment) system. The strategic need for such a large-scale radar station diminished, leading to its decommissioning and subsequent sale by the Ministry of Defence in 1991.

The site is closed and derelict. The technical site, located at the provided coordinates, is now privately owned. The most prominent remaining feature is the massive, windowless concrete building (the 'R12' building) that once housed the Type 84 radar transmitter/receiver. The large, hardened underground R3 bunker from the ROTOR period also still exists but is sealed and reported to be flooded. The site is a popular destination for urban explorers, though it is on private property and considered dangerous. The former domestic camp, located separately in Bempton village, has been redeveloped for private housing.

RAF Bempton was a highly significant radar station, not a traditional airport with runways. Its ICAO code GB-0116 is a non-standard designator for a location, not an official airport code. Its history spans two major conflicts:

- **World War II:** Established in 1940 as a Chain Home Low (CHL) station, its primary role was to detect low-flying Luftwaffe aircraft approaching the British coast during the war.

- **Cold War:** The station's importance grew immensely during the Cold War. In the early 1950s, under the 'ROTOR' programme, it was upgraded to a Centimetric Early Warning (CEW) station, featuring a protected, two-level underground operations block (R3 bunker) to withstand a potential nuclear attack. In the 1960s, it was selected for a massive upgrade as part of the 'Linesman/Mediator' system, becoming one of only three Master Radar Stations (MRS) in the UK. It housed enormous and powerful radars, including the Type 84 and later the Type 85, providing long-range surveillance over the North Sea and the UK's northern air approaches against Soviet bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. For decades, it was a cornerstone of the UK's air defence network.

There are zero prospects for reopening RAF Bempton as either a military installation or a civilian airport. The military technology is completely obsolete, and the strategic requirement no longer exists. It was never an airport and lacks the fundamental infrastructure, such as runways and taxiways. Any future use of the site would require the extremely costly demolition of the heavily reinforced, bomb-proof concrete structures. Consequently, the site is expected to remain derelict or be eventually redeveloped for industrial or commercial use, pending a viable plan to clear the land.