RAF Troodos

Overview

RAF Troodos (Royal Air Force Station Troodos) is a Royal Air Force station located on Mount Olympos, the highest mountain in Cyprus, near Kakopetria. The facility has been operational since 1878 and serves as a remote Signals Station.

History

The RAF Troodos is the oldest remaining British military base in Cyprus, with its history dating back to 1878. Initially, it was used for various purposes, but its current role as a Signals Station began to take shape over time.

Location and Facilities

The station is situated deep within the Troodos Mountains, approximately 22 kilometers north of Episkopi. The facility includes the Mount Olympus Radar Station, which is part of the RAF Troodos complex. The radar system has a range of 1500 to 3000 km and is used to continuously monitor military and civilian air traffic over Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and parts of Egypt and Turkey.

Intelligence Interception Capabilities

Published documents from Edward Snowden's leaks in 2015 revealed that RAF Troodos is one of the "crown jewels" among the intelligence interception capacities for monitoring satellite communications. The facility collects information about Turkey, Israel, and North Africa, making it a significant asset for the British secret service GCHQ.

Technical Details

The system installed at RAF Troodos in 1974 is an unspecified High Frequency (HF) radar system. The exact details of the system's capabilities and specifications are not publicly available due to its classified nature.

Accessibility and Security

Due to its location on a military restricted area, the facility is no longer accessible to the public. The summit of the Troodos Mountains has been designated as a military zone, ensuring the security and confidentiality of the operations conducted at RAF Troodos.