It is the home of the 9,000 acre (36 km2) electronic warfare (EW) tactics range, making it the largest (by area) RAF base in the United Kingdom.

[10] The role of Spadeadam in Britain's Cold War nuclear weapons programme was made public in 2004 when tree felling uncovered remains of abandoned excavations for an experimental missile silo.

[15] The site continues to be used in training the Royal Air Force and NATO allied aircrew in electronic warfare.

It also hosts other exercising forces such as JFACTSU forward air controller training delivered from RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire.

The area includes a pristine peat bog, populations of all three species of British newt and forestry habitat suitable for endangered red squirrels.