Troodos Station
{{short description|Royal Air Force signals station in the Troodos Mountains}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2017}}
{{Infobox military installation
| name = Troodos Station
| ensign =
| ensign_size = 90px
| native_name =
| partof = Strategic Command
| location = Troodos Mountains
| nearest_town =
| country = Cyprus
| image = Snowboarding in Troodos.jpg
| caption =
| pushpin_map = Cyprus
| pushpin_label = Troodos Station
| pushpin_map_caption = Shown within Cyprus
| coordinates = {{Coord|34|54|46|N|032|53|02|E|region:CY_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| type = Signals intelligence gathering and radar station
| code =
| site_area = 50 hectares
| height =
| ownership = Ministry of Defence
| operator = Strategic Command
| controlledby = British Forces Cyprus
| open_to_public =
| condition =
| built = {{Start date|1878}}
| builder =
| used = 1878–present
| materials =
| fate =
| battles =
| events =
| current_commander =
| past_commanders =
| garrison =
| occupants = Golf Section, Joint Service Signal Unit (Cyprus)
| website =
}}
Troodos Station, formerly Royal Air Force Troodos, is a retained British Strategic Command site in the Republic of Cyprus.
Troodos Station is a remote Signals Station operated by personnel from Golf Section, Joint Service Signal Unit (Cyprus). The station parents the Mount Olympus radar site, operated by a small contingent of RAF personnel.{{Cite web |last=Newton |first=Simon |date=2019-01-18 |title=Snow In Cyprus: Why Personnel Are Based On The Island's Highest Mountain |url=https://www.forces.net/news/snow-cyprus-why-troops-are-based-islands-highest-mountain |access-date=2024-04-09 |website=Forces Network |language=en}}
The station is based deep within the Troodos Mountains, approximately {{convert|14|miles|km}} north of Episkopi.
History
Troodos Station is the oldest remaining British military base in Cyprus, dating from 1878. Initially it was used as a cool summer field hospital for troops from the Egyptian Campaign. British Army and Government officials also used it as a summer retreat.{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/british-forces-overseas-posting-troodos-cyprus |title=British forces overseas posting: Troodos, Cyprus |publisher=Ministry of Defence |accessdate=2 September 2013}}
Current use
Declassified documents show that RAF Troodos intercepted satellite communications for the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), and documents released by Edward Snowden suggest this has continued in recent years funded by the U.S. National Security Agency.{{cite news |url=http://www.gloucestershireecho.co.uk/GCHQ-worked-haqrd-maintain-presence-Cyprus/story-20246314-detail/story.html |title=GCHQ worked hard to maintain presence on Cyprus after independence |newspaper=Gloucestershire Echo |date=1 December 2013 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20150414104605/http://www.gloucestershireecho.co.uk/GCHQ-worked-haqrd-maintain-presence-Cyprus/story-20246314-detail/story.html |archivedate=14 April 2015}} Information from Snowden also indicates the site acts as a listening post for radio signals from the near Middle East.{{cite news |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/01/29/israeli_drones_and_jet_signals_slurped_by_uk_and_us_sigint_teams/ |title=Israeli drones and jet signals slurped by UK and US SIGINT teams |author=Iain Thomson |newspaper=The Register |date=29 January 2016 |accessdate=1 February 2016}}[https://theintercept.com/2016/01/28/israeli-drone-feeds-hacked-by-british-and-american-intelligence/ Spies in the sky], by Cora Currier and Henrik Moltke, The Intercept_, 29 January 2016
The British National Space Centre Starbrook wide-field telescope has been here since 2006. It can detect orbiting objects from {{convert|1.5|m}} in size.{{cite web |url=http://www.esa.int/About_Us/ESA_Publications/ESA_i_Bulletin_i_133_February_2008 |title=Europe's Eyes on the Skies |author=Heiner Klinkrad|publisher=European Space Agency |work=ESA Bulletin 133 |date=February 2008 |accessdate=2 September 2013|display-authors=etal}}
See also
{{commons category|RAF Troodos}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Royal Air Force}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Troodos}}
Category:Intelligence agency stations in Cyprus
Category:Royal Air Force stations in Cyprus
Category:UKUSA listening stations
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