Jon Lake

The United Kingdom’s recent defense and security review, and the Defence Command Paper Defence in a Competitive Age that followed it, aimed to identify and understand future threats and to invest in the capabilities needed to defeat them. The review process was shaped more by budgetary constraints than by military necessity and ended up imposing a series of cuts to force size, structure, and equipment.

 


The Royal Air Force was hit particularly hard, despite optimistic-sounding statements from senior officers. The Freeman Air and Space Institute, an initiative by London University’s King’s College, predicted that the review would follow the usual pattern: highlighting new technologies that would enable the UK to act as a major world power with smaller armed forces; before realizing that this was unaffordable without significant additional investment or scaling back ambitions; and then trying to fund the new equipment and capabilities by cutting force size and retiring existing equipment.

 


The review committed to growing the UK’s fleet of F-35B fighters beyond 48 aircraft, though this implies that this will fall far short of the UK’s original commitment to 138 F-35s. Subsequent to the review, it was suggested that any additional aircraft would be to maintain the existing fleet size through to its out-of-service date, rather than to significantly grow it.

 


The Euorfighter Typhoon force will be reduced by 24 aircraft through the premature retirement of older Tranche 1 jets by 2025, though the review stated that the RAF would “continue to grow its combat air capacity over the next few years as we fully establish all seven operational Typhoon squadrons.” This would seem difficult, with just 107 Tranche 2 and Tranche 3 Typhoons to equip test and training units, as well as the seven front-line units.

 


The RAF’s fleet of E-3D Sentry AWACS aircraft (once seven-strong but depleted in recent years) will be retired this year, to be replaced by a fleet of just three Boeing E-7A Wedgetails from 2023, down from an original plan for five. The E-7As, to be based at Lossiemouth in Scotland, are unlikely to be available for expeditionary operations, and may struggle to fulfil UK quick-reaction alert (QRA) taskings.

 


Perhaps most surprisingly, the RAF will retire the C-130J Hercules transport aircraft in 2023, despite the aspirations for UK forces to be agile and deployable, and operating on the world stage. Some 13 stretched Hercules C.Mk 4s and a single short-fuselage C.Mk 5 presently fly about 5,500 hours per year—about the same as the A400M and the C-17A. The review says that the A400M Atlas force will “increase its capacity and capability”, though there is no indication as to how an additional 5,000 flying hours will be generated, and there are, as yet, no firm plans for assuming the Hercules’s Special Forces role.

 


About 36 Hawk T.Mk 1s used mainly for adversary training will be retired (replaced by virtual training), though the type will continue to be used by the Red Arrows display team. Nine of the UK’s oldest Chinooks are to be retired, and the Puma helicopter will be replaced by a new type, which will also replace the remainder of the UK’s disparate fleet of medium-lift helicopters, thus reducing four platform types to one.

 


Balanced against these cuts, more UK weapons are now expected to be integrated onto Lightning II and investment will ensure that its software and capabilities are updated in line with the rest of the global F-35 fleet. Money will also be made available to bring the <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2020-09-14/britains-long-awaited-radar-two-program-breaks-cover">upgraded Radar 2</a> and<a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2016-07-13/spear-sets-course-f-35-integration"> Spear Capability 3</a> deep strike weapon onto the Typhoon.

 


Nine Reaper remotely-piloted air systems will be replaced by 16 long-range <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2020-07-17/uk-ministry-defence-signs-first-protector-order">General Atomics Protectors</a> from 2024, while the <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2020-10-18/team-tempest-reveals-different-approach-fcas">Future Combat Air System</a> will receive £2 billion of investment over the next four years, and development of the LANCA loyal wingman system will continue.

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Savage Cuts for the RAF in UK Defense Review

Speculation prior to the UK defense review suggested F-35 acquisition would be pegged at 48, but purchases will continue, although likely to be limited.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Jessica Reed

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Company's latest Business Aviation Market Brief showed flight operations rising 2.4% year over year

Global Jet Capital: Bizav Market Stable in 4Q2024

Chad Trautvetter

Aircraft wing assembly is coming together in anticipation of first flight next year

First Flight-test HondaJet Echelon Begins To Take Shape

Kerry Lynch

Company is offering $3 million retrofit kit to bring Global 7500 in line with the 8000

Bombardier Finalizing Global 8000 Flight-test Campaign

Charles Alcock

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

Helicopter deliveries and orders were among the highlights of aerospace group's 2024 results 

Airbus Pushes For Increased Airliner Deliveries in 2025

Airplane billings soar 14.3%, helicopters climb 7.6%

Industry Billings Top $31B as Bizjet Shipments Increase

While market grew last year and is expected again this year, business aircraft deliveries will flatten out long-term

Teal Group Sees Double-digit Bizav Market Growth in 2025

News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

More In Aircraft

Global Jet Capital: Bizav Market Stable in 4Q2024

Company's latest Business Aviation Market Brief showed flight operations rising 2.4% year over year

First Flight-test HondaJet Echelon Begins To Take Shape

Aircraft wing assembly is coming together in anticipation of first flight next year

Bombardier Finalizing Global 8000 Flight-test Campaign

Company is offering $3 million retrofit kit to bring Global 7500 in line with the 8000

Airbus Pushes For Increased Airliner Deliveries in 2025

Helicopter deliveries and orders were among the highlights of aerospace group's 2024 results

Industry Billings Top $31B as Bizjet Shipments Increase

Airplane billings soar 14.3%, helicopters climb 7.6%

Teal Group Sees Double-digit Bizav Market Growth in 2025

While market grew last year and is expected again this year, business aircraft deliveries will flatten out long-term

EBAA Releases EBACE Conference Details for Geneva Show

Three stages will include live discussions about aircraft operations, innovation, and business aviation news

Seaplane Industry Sets Course for Sustainable Revival

There’s no shortage of a need for aircraft that can take off and land on water, supporters say

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN