The Ministry of Defence has insisted that the number of Royal Air Force (RAF) fighter pilots is sufficient to meet existing defence requirements, despite ongoing concerns over a shortfall in combat-ready personnel.
Responding to a parliamentary question from Labour MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi on 13 March 2025, Defence Minister Luke Pollard stated:
“The Ministry of Defence (MOD) continually assesses pilot numbers to appropriately resource the Combat Air Force and are comfortable with the number of Royal Air Force fighter pilots against extant Defence Tasks.”
He added that “The MOD has a range of governance measures in place to analyse UK Military Flying Training System throughput to ensure pilot numbers meet the demand for Defence both now and in the future.”
Pollard also confirmed that the MOD will continue to provide quarterly statistics on pilot training to the relevant select committee.
However, these reassurances come amid reports of a significant shortfall in RAF fighter pilots, exacerbated by recruitment policies that were later found to be unlawful. The Daily Mail recently revealed that RAF leadership is now urgently seeking previously overlooked candidates to reapply for training, including older candidates with flight experience, in an effort to plug the gaps.
The recruitment issues stem from a controversial initiative that sought to prioritise the recruitment of female and ethnic minority pilots over white male applicants. A subsequent inquiry ruled this approach unlawful, leading to a significant setback in meeting pilot recruitment targets. Reports suggest that the RAF currently faces a 30% shortfall in pilots at the Flight Lieutenant and Squadron Leader ranks—figures that have not been officially confirmed or refuted by the MOD.
Shadow Armed Forces Minister Mark Francois has attributed the issues to “a perfect storm,” citing “woke manipulation of recruiting practices, the revival of civilian airlines post-Covid, and technical issues with training aircraft, particularly engine reliability on the Hawk T2.”
The Daily Mail has also reported on an internal document confirming an urgent need for “a higher number of pilots for training.”
In response, the RAF is now encouraging personnel from other branches—who may have previously been rejected due to their suitability scores—to reapply for pilot training.
We need to start recruiting SNCO pilots – you do not need a degree to fly an aircraft just the right aptitude – take a look at AAC. In particular, why do we need Officer aircrew to operate Drones/ UAVs.
You need a degree level of academic ability. You don’t need a degree to join as a pilot. The selection process is a measure of academic ability and pilot aptitude to see you have the potential to get through the traning. Which is incredibly demanding.
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People without degrees do demanding work all the time. Bill Gates founded one of the most successful IT companies of all time without a degree. I don’t see your point.
There is serious knowledge of physics and maths needed for those roles. They are very clever people because they have to be.
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If there’s one role in the military that should never have an issue with recruitment (retention a different matter) it’s fighter pilot. The failures required across government and the RAF to get here have been massive.
The fact the training pipeline can seemingly collapse and leave a 30% shortfall for a largely reduced fleet after activists abused the recruitment system for a relatively short time 4 years ago speaks volumes.
While looking for solutions, the M-346, operated by an allied nation (who I think are helping train RAF pilots anyway) with fleets of Eurofighter’s, F-35B’s and eventually GCAP. It still has a hot production line.
BAE want away from the Hawk and would use the resources towards further Typhoons orders and eventually Tempest.
Leonardo would build them and may set up shop in the UK, at least for certain parts, for a decent sized order.
The most attractive function in the RAF and we can’t find people to sign up. The last Chief of the Air Staff appointed a fomer dentist to manage recruitment. What could possibly go wrong?
Great post. The shame was she did not face any penalty for her direct involvement in the illegal recruitment practices.
She and the woke monster Wigston were an utter disgrace.
One day I would like to see Wigston or her face to face and offer them a piece of my mind.
Go woke 🐹🦄🌈, go broke.
“However, these reassurances come amid reports of a significant shortfall in RAF fighter pilots, exacerbated by recruitment policies that were later found to be unlawful.”
Translating “unlawful”: RAF engaged in racism in its recruitment . Leftist racism.