The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the Royal Air Force (RAF) is conducting a capability investigation into replacing its advanced jet trainer.
This assessment will inform the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) and support the training needs of current and future combat aircraft, including the Typhoon, F-35 Lightning, and the forthcoming Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP).
Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty raised the matter in a written question to the Ministry of Defence, asking for an update on the procurement process for the RAF’s next-generation fast-jet trainer.
Responding to the question, Defence Minister Maria Eagle stated: “The Royal Air Force is undertaking a capability investigation into the replacement of the current advanced jet trainer capability and combat aircrew training requirements for Typhoon, F-35 Lightning and the future Global Combat Air Programme, which is informing the Strategic Defence Review (SDR).”
The investigation considers the changing nature of combat aircraft operations and aims to identify a system that meets evolving training requirements. Eagle highlighted that the study includes options for combining live flying and networked virtual training.
“The nature of UK combat aircraft operation continues to transform, and future training requirements reflect this. Therefore, the capability investigation includes consideration of a training system that would combine live flying training, including with our air weapons range infrastructure, and networked virtual training through realistic simulation,” she explained.
The outcome of the SDR will ultimately determine the next steps, with no decisions to be made until its completion.
The RAF’s current fast-jet training capability, provided by the Hawk T2, has been central to preparing aircrew for frontline operations. The inclusion of virtual simulation in training has gained traction in recent years, offering cost-effective and scalable solutions while maintaining high levels of realism.
However, the integration of such systems alongside live flying remains a challenge, particularly in ensuring interoperability with existing and future platforms.
As the SDR progresses, decisions made will be critical to ensuring that RAF aircrew remain prepared for the demands of modern and future air combat.
There are many options, we are in partnership with Italy and Japan to produce GCAP and they will be facing the same issues as ourselves regarding new Fast trainers. Fact is we do not have a modern option in production but Italy does and they operate Typhoons and F35B so that may be an obvious option.
I just hope that given the ridiculously low numbers we would want, we don’t try to go it alone, that market is pretty full so just for once a fast off the shelf option would be prudent.
In fact I’d actually think about a joint training approach with like minded nations using a common, jointly owned pool of aircraft.
it’s an idea worth exploring ABC. In the 80’s there was a joint Tornado RAF/German/Italian training centre at RAF Cottesmore.
Yep and I spent many a happy hour watching from the Stamford end of the runway. If you think about we have most of different weather and terrain issues covered between just those 3.
Ahh, the happy bygone days of the Rutland Airforce mate….
Healey was being shown around that Turk jet last week. People started to speculate if we’d buy it as part of them going for Typhoon.
Perhaps so mate.
Many of us considered the Hawk T2 as one of the worst politically motivated purchases.
It was beyond bleeding obvious it would have a short shelf life, as a 30 year old design with a face lift is still old had.
It was always going to be showing its age by 2030.
What’s needed is a high end, thoroughly modern LIFT, a composite blend of sophisticated synthetic avionics, able to mimic F35/GCAP avionics, preferably at least transonic, highly agile with a reconfigurable fly by wire flight control system and excellent reliability.
Since 1980 UK and Italy have got basically the same main combat aircrafts. And if GCAP survives to 2070 will be 90 years of that… So it makes sense to have some commonality.
I thought VR might be being used by now?
It might be Peter, but the lack of g forces in a VR environment means the real thing is still required.
That’s a good point.
VR could help with getting to know the aircraft though.
There is a lot of simulator work that’s done prior to them going onto type as part of the conversion process from Hawk.
Look up a company called Cineon to see what is being used in CAA courses.
Did Aeralis ever happen? I thought they were developing a new modular aircraft with one of them being a trainer option and the RAF were quite interested?