Kandahar Airfield

As part of Operation HERRICK 1, 2 and 3, our Co-founding Director deployed as a Garrison Engineer with a military construction force and a Specialist Team Royal Engineers (Air Support) to design and construct a new dispersal apron to support critical air operations in the conflict.

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The high tempo of operations often dictated the need to design, tender, mobilise and deliver in ridiculously short timelines, to support offensive Air Operations. As one of the largest concreting projects ever delivered by the Corps of Royal Engineers at the time, he was responsible for designing, and constructing over 32,000m2 of airfield apron and adjoining dispersal areas for fixed-wing and fast jet aircraft using British and American Engineers – and 9500m3 of concrete.

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The austere environment often dictated non-standard construction approach was needed, especially as the airfield apron (affectionately called ’Panther Dispersal’) was constructed in a live minefield, following behind the mine-clearance operation.

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At one point in the project, following a sustained rocket attack, the supply chain for the concrete was interrupted as the batching plant was abandoned by its operatives. Any delay to the project would impact critical air operations, and so with a team of men, the Garrison Engineer took over the batching plant and reinstated production to allow construction to continue.