Summary and Key Points: The British Ministry of Defence has announced a £20 million ($26.1 million) investment to build a "silent hangar" at Boscombe Down in Wiltshire for testing advanced military aircraft like the F-35 Lightning II and Chinook helicopters.

-The facility, one of the largest of its kind in Europe, will simulate hostile electromagnetic environments to counter threats such as GPS jamming, which has become increasingly common in modern warfare.

-Expected to open in 2026, the hangar will ensure military equipment can perform effectively in challenging conditions, enhancing the UK's national security and military resilience.

British Ministry of Defence to Build 'Silent Hanger' for F-35 Testing

A new UK test facility, one of the largest of its kind in Europe, could enable future testing of advanced aircraft including the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. It will be used to help with the development of technology to counter GPS jamming devices.

On Wednesday, the British Ministry of Defense announced it was investing £20 million ($26.1 million) to build a facility large enough to hold F-35 fighters and Chinook transport helicopters at the Boscombe Down site in Wiltshire. The facility in England’s southwest won't just store the aircraft. Rather, this "silent hangar" will serve as an isolation chamber for testing equipment that "can perform in the harshest electromagnetic environments on operations," the Ministry explained. 

The Ministry of Defense describes the facility as an "anechoic hangar (that) creates the perfect environment to test the integrity of the UK's military equipment." It is now on track to open in 2026. In addition to ensuring that tests can be conducted in a controlled environment, the hangar will also prevent tests from impacting emergency services or air traffic control in the region.

"Hostile threats jamming GPS to disorientate military equipment has become increasingly common," said Minister for Defense Procurement and Industry Maria Eagle, who added, "This cutting-edge test facility will help us eliminate vulnerabilities from our platforms, protect our national security and keep our Armed Forces better protected on global deployments."

Specialty Facility 

When completed, the silent hangar will be one of the largest facilities of its kind in Europe – roughly the size of a normal aircraft hangar, but with many features that might be found in a modern recording studio and classified research center. According to the Ministry, it will simulate "hostile environments (while) putting the UK's most advanced military equipment through its paces."

Security and defense contractor QinetiQ, which provides testing and evaluation capabilities for the military, was awarded the £20 million contract to build the facility.

"On an increasingly digital battlefield, the debilitating effects of electronic warfare are a persistent threat," suggested Will Blamey, chief executive for UK defense at QinetiQ. "The testing we will conduct using this new facility will be integral to strengthening the resilience of military equipment, which in turn enhances the safety and security of our Armed Forces and the United Kingdom."

The design calls for the silent hangar to "reduce reflections, echoes or the escape of radio-frequency waves," while "GPS simulators and threat emulators inside the chamber will provide the ability for the UK to create a number of hostile environments to test how well equipment can withstand jamming, and other threats, that attempt to confuse or disrupt military assets."

The Ministry of Defense has been influenced by the role electronic warfare has played in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, as well as China's military build-up, to put a renewed focus on its own EW efforts.

"The subject of GPS jamming has been well documented in the press, making this new facility all the more vital to help us keep our armed forces safe while protecting the nation and our allies," added Richard Bloomfield, head of Electronic Warfare (CBRN) Space at Defence Equipment & Support. "Not only will this be one of the largest such chambers in Europe, but it will also be one of the most up to date and high-tech in the world, where hostile environments can be safely recreated to put military equipment, such as fighter jets and drones, through testing to understand their performance in challenging environments representing the many external threats that may be faced."

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu 

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].

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