The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that work is now under way to define the full requirement for a replacement to the Royal Air Force’s Hawk T2 advanced jet trainer, as part of a broader effort to modernise the UK Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS).
Around 650 aircrew trainees are currently progressing through the £3.8 billion, 25-year public-private partnership, which provides training for fast jet, multi-engine, rotary-wing and remotely piloted aircraft pilots, as well as mission aircrew across all three services. The system operates seven aircraft types across six UK sites and covers 20 aircrew specialisations.
In a letter to the Defence Committee dated 15 October, Defence Readiness and Industry Minister Luke Pollard described UKMFTS as “a 25-year, £3.8Bn Public Private Partnership, contracted to 2033.” He said the programme delivers aircrew training for the RAF, Royal Navy and Army, providing all training aircraft, simulators, instructors and infrastructure required for UK pilot development.
Pollard said the Fast Jet training pipeline is now “optimised,” with only six trainees waiting to begin flying training and all delays under three months. Thirty-two pilots are currently in post-elementary hold, down from 128 two years ago. However, delays persist in other areas: 34 pilots are waiting to begin Operational Conversion Unit training, including 12 rotary-wing pilots affected by Chinook OCU delays and the Puma’s phase-out, while 18 remotely piloted air system trainees face holdovers of up to four years due to delays in the Protector programme.
The minister said demand for multi-engine pilots is expected to increase from 2025–26 with new intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance platforms coming into service. A blended approach using both civilian and military training will be trialled in 2026 to meet this demand.
On the future of advanced jet training, Pollard confirmed that the MOD is maintaining close liaison with BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce “to ensure Hawk T2 engine availability meets our requirements,” but noted that availability “remains fragile.”
He wrote that the MOD is “standing up a Programme Team to assess future options and to define the full requirement,” with the goal of creating a system that is “technically adaptable and scalable,” integrates synthetic training devices, and delivers an immersive training environment.
Pollard concluded, “I want to assure the Defence Committee that the MOD remains committed to ensuring UKMFTS meets our current and future front-line requirements for world-class aircrew.”
great photo of the Hawk!
Taken from a Cambera if I am not mistaken from 7175 squadron
Demand for multi engine pilots to increase due to new ISTAR platforms coming into service.
E7? There are only 3, I’d dread to think the strain then if they replaced Hercules.
Hi M8 When it comes to multi engined platforms such as A330, A400, P8, E7 etc I just sometimes scratch my head, it’s almost as if the RAF is incapable of thinking outside their tight little “My Toys, my Children” mentality.
Those Hercules crews haven’t vanished into thin air or forgotten everything they ever learned they have probably either migrated over to A400 or gone into the Civilian part of their flying careers.
IMHO it’s time we took a leaf out of the USAF play book and actually thought about a well structured and rewarding RAuxAF à la their National guard.
A lot of those ex RAF Pilots may be interested in it if the reward package incorporated a way of adding service years to their Forces Pensions and the promotions they would have had if MOD hadn’t curtailed their careers.
And besides which if we end up in a shooting war, Civil Airlines will either be grounded or pressed into service anyway, so you may as well do the job properly. And the same goes for ground crews etc etc.
Oh and Good Morning 😎
Good morning my friend. 😎
And, it’s sunny here in Surrey, was expecting a deluge.
There is actually a reserve Sqn for pilots in the RauxAF already, I forget its number, 600 something, for the ATF at Brize. That could be the embryo to expand.
I think that is a great idea. I’ve also lamented before that our reserve, including the RauxAF, is a reserve of people but no kit. RNR, RauxAF, they have no assets themselves which is ridiculous given the wealth and economy of this country.
Ahh more assessing and study groups to keep people busy for a decade…
T-7 Red Hawk, T-50 Golden Eagle or Hurjet?