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) at the northwest extremity of West Falkland, Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic. 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.

The mountain's top is occupied by RRH Byron Heights (Remote Radar Head Byron Heights) of the British Forces South Atlantic Islands (BFSAI), part of an early warning and airspace control network including also RRH Mount Alice on West Falkland and RRH Mount Kent on East Falkland. In the 1990s, the radar was a type 94 being operated by a detachment of No. 7 Signals Unit of the Royal Air Force. In January 2007, it was operated by No. 303 Signals Unit and was visited by Princess Anne and her husband, Rear Admiral Timothy Laurence. 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). During the Falklands Conflict, the site was used by Argentine forces to site an Eltar radar which was used to track Sea Harriers.

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. 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. Byron Heights is also the location of a civilian band 300-Watt FM radio transmitter.

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.

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.