The Ministry of Defence has clarified which aircraft are included in the Royal Air Force’s Command Support Air Transport (CSAT) fleet, following a written question from Mike Wood, Conservative MP for Kingswinford and South Staffordshire.
In response, Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard stated: “No, the RAF Command Support Air Transport (CSAT) fleet comprises of two Envoy IV Dassault Falcon 900LX aircraft, G-ZAHS and G-ZABH.”
Pollard explained that the Voyager aircraft, ZZ336, is operated alongside the main fleet of RAF Voyagers, on behalf of the RAF by AirTanker. It has a secondary role and can be tasked under Op VESPINA for the use of Head of State or Head of Government on State business only.
He further confirmed: “The Airbus A321 (G-GBNI) is not a military aircraft. It is tasked by the Cabinet Travel Office under Government contract.”
According to the minister, CSAT is “a military function, delivered to aid operational effectiveness including senior military leader partner engagements, crisis early entry, and the movement of operational information.” He stressed that it remains “separate to wider Government and Royal VIP passenger movement, delivered through the Ministerial Air Transport Contract and Royal Transport Office respectively.”
Pollard added that military tasking of CSAT “remains the priority throughout,” and reiterated the Government’s commitment to value for money: “We cancelled the VIP helicopter contract which wasted millions under the previous Government. The money saved from cancelling this contract will be returned to Defence’s core budget – an estimated £40 million.”
An extra 40.000.000 to get someone to draw something that will probably never be… Ho goody goody.
No sorry they don’t use pencils today only AI.
That’s not what they’re saying though is it?
I assume 40,000,000.
Ok so they say they made 40million of saving on VIP transport, but your not happy, would you prefer they wasted 40million ? Or are you just being critical of everything without any analysis or argument ?
It’s called joking old man ,you should tried it a bit of humor does you good. 👍👍🍻
The thing about text is you cannot hear the irony..that’s why you young people stole our 🙂 and called it an emoji.
Several HS125 replaced by 2. Same trend there. Northolt must be pretty deserted these days military air movement wise.
Yes DM, while I do not want to see a large CSAT fleet, it is pretty obvious that 2x D Falcons is not enough.
Personally I don’t mind money being spent on CSAT as long as it’s duel use and mirrors a plaform that has wider use… basically I’m happy for our leadership to have speed and safety from using military transport, but I don’t want it to have gold taps and I want it to be able to deliver other capabilities as needed.
Personally I think our nation lacks resilience and one area you could add resilience is the military undertaking a lot more MACA and developing of civil contingencies..things like CSAT are perfect for supporting MACA. it’s one of the things if firmly believe helps win a war.. your nations ability to take a constant pasting and keep functioning and your nations ability to giving a pasting to the core of an enemy nation..so although I salute the 40 million in savings it’s a few more good rotors that could support the nation ticking in time of war.
Nations have VIP and VVIP transport aircraft. We should be no different.
Give them as many alternate roles as needed.
Labour gave the Tories a right pasting for using Voyager so I’d be interested to see what Bus Starmer is using.
Yep I never understood the issue with using voyager to be honest especially if it’s a big even shifting a fair number of people and every move like that should be.. if the Primeminister is visiting a county, why would you not tie up a load of other political and vip visits and tasks all at the same time…
I did read Harrier 809 & it is interesting how at the start of the 1982 Falklands conflict, all small transport assets were used to get people to where they needed to be. HS125, Jetstream, Pembrokes, Devons & even a Chipmunk. ASR408 which was meant to replaceDevons/Herons with 14x King Air or Jetstream had been shelved in defence cuts. CSAT is not just for Royals & PM. It is also for diplomats, military & intel officers. Plus the underwater knife fighters.
Hi Daniele – and of course the Bae 146/Andovers before. I believe the A109 helo is also gone? Makes one wonder if it’s worth having a sqn with 2 aircraft? No doubt there are cost benefits relocating them RAF Brize Norton and closing Northolt.
Hi mate.
I flipping well hope not!
Useful to have a military used runway close to Heathrow.
Also, Northolt itself has several tri service organisations based there beyond the flying bits.
Some relocated when other London sites closed.
So I don’t see it.
Hi DM- totally understand your reasoning.
I saw a video of the King landing in a Falcon at Northolt recently. As well as the 2x RAF Falcons, there were at least 6 other mid size biz jets there. It is used by foreign governments/VIPs visiting London.
Indeed it is.
> Falcon D.
It’s a common executive jet. In an a emergency it should be easiest enough to wet or dry lease lease more at very short notice – financially that is a far better option than having planes (or helos) sitting around usually underutilised, but draining £millions from the MOD’s core cash budget every year. Under current accounting policies the MOD has no choice but keep only essential military aircraft such as fast jets as on its books. For AAR tankers, VIP transports, SAR helos, training aircraft, utility aircraft … from an accounting perspective it is better off having these owned by someone else.
Yes and then you have a war and actually all of those things sitting around could have been undertaking MACA duties developing and supporting National resilience and in war then integrate strait into a really effective civil defence structure.