Will the UK continue to produce combat aircraft in the next decade? The government has promised to answer that question soon, by launching a new “Combat Air Strategy.” This is particularly awaited by the Military Air and Information (MAI) business of BAE Systems (Outside Exhibit 11). It may no longer be rolling out new Eurofighter Typhoons at Warton by the middle 2020s and, although the company has developed significant expertise in unmanned combat air vehicles (UCAVs), these have been on research and development contracts only.
Chris Boardman, the managing director of the MAI business at BAE, said recently that he hoped the new strategy “is very clear about what stance we want to take in the world.” He was speaking at RAF Marham on the sidelines of the first deliveries to the UK of Lockheed Martin F-35s—a program that will bring large revenues to BAE Systems in the next two decades. The company is producing the rear fuselages and tails for the 3,000-plus of the stealth fighters that are expected to be ordered.
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