School Information [36] Duncan Campbell presented a report commissioned by STOA concerning the ECHELON system, at a "hearing of the Committee on Citizens Freedoms and Rights, Justice and Home Affairs on the subject the European Union and data protection" which prompted the European Union to set up the Temporary Committee on the ECHELON Interception System. The base went through a series of updates in order to fulfill its new mission. Menwith Hill is a US base on 545 acres of land in beautiful Nidderdale (one of the Yorkshire Dales) near Harrogate North Yorkshire HG3 2RF UK. The second is called OVERHEAD, which uses U.S. government satellites orbiting above targeted countries to locate and monitor wireless communications on the ground below such as cellphone calls and even WiFi traffic. [18], Planning permission was granted in August 2019 for the construction of three new radomes at the site, bringing the total number to thirty-seven. Over the history, the ECHELON system was the subject of a huge controversy due to its monitoring power. HQ Air Force Housing has successfully implemented HEAT across the AF Enterprise so members can reach out to installations when preparing for transition. The operations, Stratford said, could have violated the European Convention on Human Rights, an international treaty that the U.K. still remains bound to despite its recent vote to leave the European Union. The 70s saw a new round of updates. The site contains an extensive satellite ground station and is a communications intercept and missile warning site. Housing Early Assistance Tool (HEAT)creates an easy on-line experience to connect you, the Service Member, with your future destination and offers an on-line venue to obtain housing assistance prior to a PCS transfer. It is said to be the widest and most important monitoring site in the world. Menwith Hills previously undisclosed role aiding the so-called targeted killing of terror suspects highlights the extent of the British governments apparent complicity in controversial U.S. attacks and raises questions about the legality of the secret operations carried out from the base. Contact the MHO as soon as you know you are moving. The documents obtained by The Intercept reveal that spy satellites operated at Menwith Hill today can target communications in China and Latin America, and also provide continuous coverage of the majority of the Eurasian landmass, where they intercept tactical military, scientific, political, and economic communications signals. But perhaps the most significant role the base has played in recent years has been in the Middle East and North Africa. The plan for three shelters - called radomes - at the RAF base in North Yorkshire was lodged by the Ministry of Defence (MoD). Queensway Underground Station to RAF Menwith Hill - Rome2rio We need to know what is being done in our name. A top-secret document detailing the surveillance indicates that the information was to be passed to a secretive special operations unit known as Task Force 11-9, which would have been equipped to conduct a covert raid to kill or capture Sumayah. [35], In 1988, investigative journalist Duncan Campbell revealed, in an article entitled "Somebody's listening" and published in New Statesman, the existence of the ECHELON surveillance program, an extension of the UKUSA Agreement on global signals intelligence Sigint. The MHO can assist you by: RAF intelligence base linked to US drone strike on Iranian general Menwith Hill: Spying and Killing for the US? | Stop the War Richard Kolko, a spokesperson for the DNI, said in a statement: The men and women serving the intelligence community safeguard U.S. national security by collecting information, conducting analysis, and providing intelligence for informed decision making under a strict set of laws, policies and guidelines. Menwith Hill See Stores Near You. DSN: 262-7759/7758. The revelations are yet another example of the unacceptable level of secrecy that surrounds U.K. involvement in the U.S. targeted killing program, Kat Craig, legal director of London-based human rights group Reprieve, told The Intercept. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. The commercial satellite communication business is alive and well and bursting at the seams with increasingly sophisticated bulk DNI (Digital Network Intelligence) traffic that is largely unencrypted, the NSA reported in a 2006 document. [48][49][50][51][52], In April 2012 activists affiliated with the global Occupy Movement held a four-day campsite at Menwith Hill. In 2007, for instance, analysts at Menwith Hill used GHOSTHUNTER to help track down a suspected al Qaeda facilitator in Lebanon who was described as highly actionable, meaning he had been deemed a legitimate target to kill or capture. Fabian Hamilton, a member of Parliament based in the nearby city of Leeds, has become a supporter of the campaigns work, occasionally attending events organized by the group and advocating for more transparency at Menwith Hill. Rome2rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. [17], On 19 February 1996, the station was renamed RAF Menwith Hill, an administrative change to align the base with other sites made available to the United States by the United Kingdom. Housing in the Local Community Leeds Station to RAF Menwith Hill - Rome2rio The base's operations and location have frequently attracted controversy, with local and national objectors protesting about the nature of work undertaken at the site, as well as the presenceof international military personnel. - Negotiating lease contracts An environmental screening statement submitted as part of the planning application to Harrogate Borough Council says: "Due to the classified nature of the operations at the base, security is a prominent concern. [6], During an interview with the Russian government funded broadcaster Russia Today in April 2012, Schofield alleged that Menwith Hill was "involved in drone attacks". Royal Air Force Menwith Hill is a Royal Air Force station near Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England, which provides communications and intelligence support services to the United Kingdom and the United States. Successive U.K. governments have publicly stated that all activities at the base are carried out with the full knowledge and consent of British officials. According to top-secret documents obtained by The Intercept from NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, Menwith Hill has two main spying capabilities. The NSA National Security Agency decided to take over the base. According to documents lodged by the MoD the proposed additions are "required to meet the operational output of the station". Though the base is officially called RAF Menwith Hill, most of the staff there are US employees of the NSA. It is located in the central part of the kingdom, in North Yorkshire. Hours of Operation: Monday - Thursday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Closed U.S. and U.K. holidays, Family Days and Goal Days. Sun. Civilian Personnel: Directory - Royal Air Force Mildenhall [11][12] The NSA expanded the station during the 1970s and 1980s, with the operations centre extended and new buildings erected. Get in Touch. Any nation-state that uses military means to attack any target, whether it is a terrorist, whether it is legitimate or not, has to be accountable to its electorate for what it does, Hamilton said. At the same time, the base is part of a comprehensive ECHELON system. Royal Air Force Menwith Hill is a Royal Air Force station near Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England, which provides communications and intelligence support services to the United Kingdom and the United States. Housing Services Fax: 01423 771508. Hatton Cross Underground Station to RAF Menwith Hill - Rome2rio The domes, which protect radar antennas from the elements, are often known as the "golf balls". Members should use HEAT when preparing to transfer to their new assignment. It hosts a few massive satellite grounds, not to mention about some missile warning services. Since then, the base has been used extensively to tap into communications in otherwise hard-to-reach areas where Islamic extremist groups such as al Qaeda and al Shabaab have been known to operate for example, in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region, Somalia, and Yemen. RAF Menwith Hill was established in 1954 to act as a "communication intercept and intelligence support service" for both the United Kingdom and the United States, according to the documents. [53] Protesters said they hoped the camp would "reignite the debate locally, nationally and globally about whether the subversive and undemocratic nature of activities at the base are acceptable, or indeed accountable, to the British public. Instead of using it for a local base, the land was given to the American through a leasing contract. But the lethal use of the surveillance data does not appear to have been restricted to conventional war zones such as Afghanistan or Iraq. Unlike most co-bases run by the Americans in Europe, this works in a different way. on about your day, ask yourself: How likely is it that the story you just read would have been produced by a different news outlet if The Intercept hadnt done it? Crucially, however, Menwith Hill has been used for more than just gathering intelligence on people and governments across countries in the Middle East and North Africa. Within the operations centre was the communications centre which was manned by cryptographers using deciphering equipment, however a large amount of the signals collected were encrypted before being forwarded for processing to the US National Security Agency's Fort Meade facility in Maryland. The agency also had a 200-seat-capacity auditorium constructed to host classified operations meetings and other events. The base's multimillion-pound expansion, Project Phoenix, is "one of the largest and most sophisticated high technology programs carried out anywhere in the UK over the last 10 years". A plan for extra radar shelters at Menwith Hill communications and intelligence base have been approved. Craig, the legal director at Reprieve, reviewed the Menwith Hill documents and said that they indicated British complicity in covert U.S. drone attacks. [39], In 1996 author and investigative journalist, Nicky Hager in his book entitled Secret Power: New Zealand's Role in the International Spy Network, provided a detailed account of ECHELON, the worldwide electronic surveillance system used by an intelligence alliance of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. On 16 October 2009, the battalion was re-designated as the 709th Military Intelligence Battalion. The outcome of the operation, however, is unclear, as it is not revealed in the document. [21][22][23][24][25][26], In April 2012 activists affiliated with the global Occupy Movement held a four-day campsite at Menwith Hill. Explore in 3D: The dazzling crown that makes a king. NSA/USAF Menwith Hill | Menwith Hill Accountability Campaign Find the travel option that best suits you. [17], The US Air Force's 6951st Electronic Security Squadron was formed at Menwith HIll on 1 May 1991. Once you complete your 3-step registration process, you may begin searching for available housing at . It was alleged the link allowed mass interception of civilian telephone and telex communications between the United States, UK and Europe. Of the 1,800 employees in 2012, 400 were British and 1,200 were American employees of the NSA. Security regulation for US and UK military operations have "tightened considerably," the MoD says. Living locallyprovides members and families the chance to experience a new culture and make friends with their host country neighbors. Temporary Lodging Allowance (TLA) When you arrive at RAF Menwith Hill, you will be staying in temporary accommodations until you move into permanent quarters. It is said to be the widest and most important monitoring site in the world. Menwith Hill's new principal, Kevin Brewer, came from Heidleberg High School, Germany, which closed in the spring as part of the closure of the military community there. - Providing furnishings support. Analysts at Menwith Hill used GHOSTHUNTER to track down his location and spy satellites operated from the British base captured aerial images. Find all the transport options for your trip from Hatton Cross Underground Station to RAF Menwith Hill right here. But the British government has publicly asserted as recently as 2014 that operations at the base have always been, and continue to be carried out with its knowledge and consent. Moreover, roughly 600 of the personnel at the facility are from U.K. agencies, including employees of the NSAs British counterpart Government Communications Headquarters, or GCHQ. RAF Menwith Hill is a co-base run by the United States of America and the United Kingdom. RAF Menwith Hill is a Royal Air Force station near Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England which provides communications and intelligence support services to the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Civilian Personnel: NAF LNDH open continuous announcements Among operations buildings in which analysts listen in on monitored conversations, there is a bowling alley, a small pool hall, a bar, a fast food restaurant, and a general store. Located near Harrogate, Yorkshire, England. Its role was to intercept communications flowing across commercial satellite uplinks, according to NSA documents. It now appears that this was far from the truth.. Spy base 'golf ball' radar shelters approved, Spy base plans for extra radar antenna shelters, Watch the moment train travels across miniature version of Knaresborough Viaduct, York and Chester council officers to meet to discuss Blue Badge access, Plans to reopen Victorian quarry in Yorkshire mired by concerns over lorries, Malton crew called to fire in garden in early hours, Yorkshire coast route from Robin Hoods Bay to Whitby named one of the best coastal walks in the UK by experts, Vehicle fire on major road through North Yorkshire - road reopens, AI chatbots 'may soon be more intelligent than us', Russia troop deaths hit 20,000 in five months - US, France May Day protests leave dozens of police injured, 'My wife and six children joined Kenya starvation cult', On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry. The World's Most Secret Places: RAF Menwith Hill, England Civilian Personnel Office - 100th Force Support Squadron - RAF Mildenhall Most visible from the outside are a cluster of about 30 of the giant white domes. On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry. Drive from Leeds Station to RAF Menwith Hill 21.4 miles. In addition, the targets of the surveillance have drastically changed, as have the purposes for which the eavesdropping is carried out. Featured Documents Your sponsor should also be able to drive you to realtor appointments until you have your own vehicle. This was the first one. [10], In the 1960s, as a result of developments in digital technology and the increased use of satellites for signals intelligence, the specialist skills of engineers and technicians within the National Security Agency (NSA) and their contractors became increasingly important. ", "Keighley grandmothers arrested over spy base protest", "Veteran peace protester sent to jail despite prisons crisis", "Protest camp looks to raise awareness of Menwith Hill", "Menwith Hill Station: A Case Study in Signal Intelligence Gathering During the Cold War", "The Billion Dollar Phone Tap America's Big Ear in the Heart of Yorkshire", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=RAF_Menwith_Hill&oldid=1143070985, This page was last edited on 5 March 2023, at 19:52. They confirmed that Menwith Hill was "linked directly to the headquarters of the US National Security Agency (NSA) at Fort Meade in Maryland. Spy base plans for extra radar antenna shelters, Watch the moment train travels across miniature version of Knaresborough Viaduct, York and Chester council officers to meet to discuss Blue Badge access, Plans to reopen Victorian quarry in Yorkshire mired by concerns over lorries, Malton crew called to fire in garden in early hours, Yorkshire coast route from Robin Hoods Bay to Whitby named one of the best coastal walks in the UK by experts, Vehicle fire on major road through North Yorkshire - road reopens, AI chatbots 'may soon be more intelligent than us', Russia troop deaths hit 20,000 in five months - US, France May Day protests leave dozens of police injured, 'My wife and six children joined Kenya starvation cult', On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry. 2023 BBC. The site was improved with a huge satellite dish for communications. It is a switching operation. Now, however, top-secret documents obtained by The Intercept offer an unprecedented glimpse behind Menwith Hills razor wire fence. The location of the target who was known by several names, including Abu Sumayah was traced to within a few hundred meters based on intercepts of his communications. [32], Site security is provided by the Ministry of Defence Police (MDP). An aerial image captured by a U.S. satellite in support of a covert GHOSTHUNTER operation. The listening base plays a role in US and UK intelligence-gathering A plan for extra radar shelters at Menwith Hill communications and intelligence base have been approved. It is located in the central part of the kingdom, in North Yorkshire. Prince Charles alongside Sqn Ldr Geoff Dickson (left) and director general of technology at GCHQ Gav Smith. UK personnel from the MOD and Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) are integrated into both the operational and administrative elements of the site. RAF MENWITH HILL POSITIONS ONLY Must be over 18 and be able to read, write and speak English fluently and must meet qualification standards. The three new radomes would be 21 metres (69ft) in diameter and located in the southern part of the site. The MHO partners with landlords, realtors and property managers to make sure you receive the most current information about the local housing market. The site contains an extensive satellite ground station and is a communications intercept and missile warning site[1] and has been described as the largest electronic monitoring station in the world.[2]. Visiting Menwith Hill in June that year, Alexander set a challenge for employees at the base. [19], During a 1997 court case, British Telecom revealed that in 1975, its predecessor, the Post Office, installed two cables between Menwith Hill and a coaxial cable that connected to the microwave radio station at Hunters Stones, which was part of the long-distance telephone network. Over the past decade, the documents show, the NSA has pioneered groundbreaking new spying programs at Menwith Hill to pinpoint the locations of suspected terrorists accessing the internet in remote parts of the world. The outpost was built in the 1950s as part of a deal made by the British and American governments to house U.S. personnel and surveillance equipment. INSCOM transformed A Company, 743rd Military Intelligence Battalion into the 713th Military Intelligence Group. The United States Army Security Agency established a high frequency radio monitoring capability, monitoring communications emanating from the Soviet Union, operating from 1958. Joining is simple and doesnt need to cost a lot: You can become a sustaining member for as little as $3 or $5 a month. VideoOn board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry, I didnt think make-up was made for black girls, Why there is serious money in kitchen fumes. And normally when we have war, parliament should normally inform people that were involved in those. Plenty of demonstrations took place around the United Kingdom and around the entire Europe. The technique, the document revealed, was linked to a broader classified initiative called GHOSTWOLF, described as a project to capture or eliminate key nodes in terrorist networks by focusing primarily on providing actionable geolocation intelligence derived from [surveillance] to customers and their operational components.. According to top-secret documents obtained by The. Alongside NSA employees within the complex, the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office also has a major presence at the site, running its own ground station from which it controls a number of spy satellites. The military base deals with intelligence and communication services. Store Email: RAFMenwithHill.commissary@deca.mil. The MOD retains control over the site's use and facilities, however the administration of the site is the responsibility of the US authorities. The site acts as a ground station for a number of satellites operated by the US National Reconnaissance Office, on behalf of the US National Security Agency, with antennae contained in a large number of highly distinctive white radomes, and is alleged to be an element of the ECHELON system. Rome2rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. Read about our approach to external linking. [8], The station initially comprised a headquarters building, barracks, dependent housing and support facilities such as a cinema and social clubs.