Byron Heights

Byron Heights
Byron Heights is located in Falkland Islands
Byron Heights
Byron Heights
Location within Falkland Islands
Highest point
Elevation497 m (1,630 ft)
Prominence497 m (1,630 ft)
Coordinates51°25′29″S 60°33′53″W / 51.42472°S 60.56472°W / -51.42472; -60.56472
Geography
LocationFalkland Islands, South Atlantic Ocean

Byron Heights is a mountain rising to 497 m (1,630 ft)[1] at the northwest extremity of West Falkland, Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic.[2] It is situated 11.65 km (7.24 mi) southeast of Hope Point on a narrow peninsula which is subject to exposed weather as it is between two bays.[3]

The mountain's top is occupied by RRH Byron Heights (Remote Radar Head Byron Heights) of the British Forces South Atlantic Islands (BFSAI),[4] part of an early warning and airspace control network including also RRH Mount Alice on West Falkland and RRH Mount Kent on East Falkland.[5] In the 1990s, the radar was a type 94 being operated by a detachment of No. 7 Signals Unit of the Royal Air Force.[6] In January 2007, it was operated by No. 303 Signals Unit and was visited by Princess Anne and her husband, Rear Admiral Timothy Laurence.[7] In 2012, it was estimated that the radar site had a coverage of 108 kilometres (67 mi) up to an altitude of 494 metres (1,621 ft).[8] During the Falklands Conflict, the site was used by Argentine forces to site an Eltar radar which was used to track Sea Harriers.[9]

The accommodation and working areas of the base were completely rebuilt between 2016 and 2025, having previously been made up of containers which had been there since 1984.[10] The teams building the new blocks had to have everything shipped out from the UK and were working in 80 miles per hour (130 km/h) winds.[11] Byron Heights is also the location of a civilian band 300-Watt FM radio transmitter.[12]

On 5 January 1984, a Lynx helicopter crashed into the sea just north of Byron Heights, both crewmembers were found still strapped inside the helicopter.[13]

References

  1. ↑ "RRH Byron Heights". www.globalmilitary.net. Retrieved 4 May 2026.
  2. ↑ Wheeler, Tony (2004). The Falklands & South Georgia Island. London: Lonely Planet. p. 111. ISBN 1740596439.
  3. ↑ "Mountains West Falkland". falklands-southatlantic.com. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  4. ↑ Post Conflict and RAF Stanley. Think Defence Website, 2017
  5. ↑ Heyman, Charles (2003). The armed forces of the United Kingdom, 2004/05. Barnsley: Leo Cooper. p. 135. ISBN 1844150054.
  6. ↑ Jackson, Paul (1995). Royal Air Force. Shepperton: Ian Allan. p. 92. ISBN 0711023387.
  7. ↑ "Court Circular". The Times. No. 68909. 15 January 2007. p. 50. ISSN 0140-0460.
  8. ↑ Bell, Mark S. (June 2012). "Can Britain Defend the Falklands?". Defence Studies. 12 (2): 300. doi:10.1080/14702436.2012.699726.
  9. ↑ Ethell, Jeffery; Price, Alfred (1987) [1983]. Air War South Atlantic. New York: Jove Books. p. 31. ISBN 0-515-09150-2.
  10. ↑ "DIO completes major improvement project in the Falkland Islands". GOV.UK. 21 May 2025. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  11. ↑ "Fixing-up the Falklands". Soldiers. 72 (12). Alexandria, VA: Dept. of the Army: 10. December 2016. ISSN 0093-8440.
  12. ↑ "FM Radio Project Review" (PDF). www.assembly.gov.fk. April 2016. p. 3. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  13. ↑ "Lynx Helicopter (Loss) - Hansard - UK Parliament". hansard.parliament.uk. 20 January 1984. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
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