Plans for a successor to the Royal Air Force’s Hawk jet trainer will be detailed in the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan, with ministers declining to confirm whether any replacement would be procured from a British company.
In a written question tabled on 23 February, Conservative MP James Cartlidge asked whether the Government intends to source a Hawk replacement from a UK manufacturer.
Responding for the Ministry of Defence, Minister of State Luke Pollard said: “A plan to replace these aircraft will be detailed in the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan. All elements of this work, including the aircraft replacement, are progressing together. All decisions on future procurements will be made as part of the Defence Investment Plan.”
The answer did not address the nationality of any potential supplier, nor set out a timeline for introduction into service.
In a separate written question, Labour peer Lord Spellar asked what discussions had taken place with unions representing workers in the combat aircraft sector about the future of air platform manufacturing in the UK.
Defence Minister Lord Coaker said the Ministry of Defence is “committed to securing the future of air platform manufacturing in the UK, recognising its importance for skills, economic growth, and national prosperity.” He referenced the Combat Air Strategy and the Global Combat Air Programme as key initiatives underpinning that commitment.
Lord Coaker added: “The MOD engages with unions representing workers in the combat aircraft sector through regular dialogue and consultation. These discussions are part of the Ministry’s commitment to supporting the future of air platform manufacturing in the UK.”
It’s getting to be a Non-News, News site !
Come on Starmer, publish the DIP.
Indeed. Every other article just boils down to the fact that Britain’s defence investment is in a state of paralysis because the government refuses to publish the DIP.
TBH feels more frequent than every other 🤷🏻♂️
Ian,
Reasonably convinced that HMG ministers are acting in the play entitled “Waiting for the DIP,” the post-modern rewrite of Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot.” 🤔😉
If the characters were deliberately blocking Godot’s arrival that is.
👍😁
These ‘stories’ are getting boring now. When there’s nothing going on with UK defence, I’d rather see articles from elsewhere with a bit more meat on the bone. I’m not talking about stories from drunk Irish colonels either. There’s plenty going on that would encourage debate here.
Pakistan striking Afghanistan. Germany and their change of direction with one way attack drones. Oh, and the statue of Sir Winston Churchill in Parliament Square being defaced with ‘Zionist war criminal’ and ‘Free Palestine’.
WHEN!!!!!!
Soon I would think. The Chancellor will give her Spring statement next week.and the financial position is a bit brighter than expected. That should clear the way for the DIP to be published later in March.
Which Spring, which March ?
DIPends….LOL
😁
I think you mean her Spin Statement which involves a lot of reannounced double counted money?
😆
Spring is sprung, the grass is riz.
I wonder where the DIPie is.
They say the DIP is on the way,
But that’s just drip.
I know the way is in the DIP.
Only because tax income brought about by huge increases was good in the third quarter. We could be going the other way by the end of April. We shouldn’t be counting chickens.
It’s a paralysed Govt, a shattering defeat to the Islamist communist alliance and a lame duck PM. The party will oust him and Reeves, the markets know that, and they will replace with a more left wing, high tax for welfare leader so economic decisions will risk market confidence.
What will her spring statement say.? Due to a strong leader we must commit to greater spend and a funded DIP?
Or, there might be Angela in charge after May’s council wipeout , who won’t prioritise defence?
Even if they publish a DIP they can’t promise delivery.
We are now in a race to 2029 with Labour and the Greens promising more socialism..
Couple of points I disagree with in your analysis. Firstly I don’t see the labour govt as paralysed. Rather I see them trying to execute ‘conservative’ economic and inclusive social policies against resistance from vested interests, including their own left wing. Secondly, it’s clear that explicit Islamic – communist alliance of Corbyn and Zara Sultana has been replaced by the more insidious threat of the Greens, who cynically campaigned in the Gorton bi-election on Gaza, LGBT rights and legitimising recreational drugs. Reeve’s fiscal discipline and supply side economics are exactly what the country needs. They are painful, but they will work. Starmer is a decent and intelligent man. He is bereavement personified, but probably still the best man for the job at the moment. That said, the electorate vote with their heart, not their head. If he doesn’t reprogram himself there will be change. Lastly, I think the DIP will be affordable and fit for purpose for UK defence. At a minimum I expect sound decisions on NHM, RAF trainer, RN fleet, Patria and Ajax.
Reeves “fiscal disciplne” ? I thought we were still in February but apparently April 1st has come early. 🙃
Nice try Geoff but you can’t buck the markets by spending money you don’t have. That way lies disaster. Both the Greens and Reform are appealing to disappointment, anger and resentment. We need realism, stability and hope. Labour are the grown ups with the plan, the talent and the resilience. The issue is that the problems are so deeply entrenched that a lot of patience and unpopular belt tightening is required. We need a charismatic leader who can inspire hope – not Starmer’s strong suit – but neither Farage nor Polanski are officer material.
Not really a try about anything Paul. I’m just going with the facts. Since July 2024 Labour have introduced over 50 new taxes adding around £60 billion to our tax bills. The UK has recently announced an all time bankruptcy figure in a single year and the hospitality sector closures have increased by over 40 per cent. Meanwhile, unemployment has risen by nearly 350,000 in the last year or so. and is sheduled to rise further in the next year Vacancies are down by over 20 per cent, even worse when it comes to youth vacancies.
Interesting you used the term “belt tightening”. When the Tories had problems and did the same all hell broke out. The problem we have is a Tory party licking it’s wounds, largely self inflicted; an incompitent government, better known for it’s thirteen U turns than actually acheiving anything and two pretenders, the Greens and Reform. Left and right and God help us all. Have you ever noticed how everybody forgets the Liberals? I nearly did it myself.
Point taken on the belt tightening. Small businesses are taking the brunt of the pain. Labour ought to have immediately reversed Hunt’s cut in employee NI on coming into office and brazened out the broken election pledge outrage. A chastened Tory party is looking like responsible adults again. I don’t know if they are done for. Maybe they will merge with the liberals as a centre right party.
On the economy, inflation is down, borrowing is down, the FSTE is up, interest rates are down. We have breathing space.
Agree with most of your points. I haven’t voted Labour, but at the moment they are our best bet. The problem they have is they need to become more Tory to get elected, and have Tory fiscal discipline. But that goes against the left wing of the party who just want endless wealthfare spending and social programs and they have no interest in defence. But Starmer knows like Blair before him, that going to left is a disaster, and will promptly put them back in opposition for another 20 years. Get the boat crossing numbers on a considerable downward trend, and get the economy growing, and they could well win again. They won’t get my vote, but I also don’t think Reform are the way either. Life is much more difficult in government compared to shouting from the sidelines.
Yes indeed, shouting from the touchline is easy. Starmer has said that ‘we’ are in a fight for the soul of the country. I think he is right about that. Post war one nation conservatism died after the 1960’s and nothing has taken its place. All the touchstone institutions which are anchors of our national identity are struggling: the C of E, the NHS, the Royal Family, the armed forces, the courts. Labour were elected because of disenchantment wuth the Tories, but they believed their own propaganda that they could unite the country. They may have ovetestimated their own ability and underestimated the cunning of Devil. Still, not long to Easter – the gardens and camp sites open – things will look brighter. 🙂
Yep. Can’t beat some milder weather to lift people’s spirits. I still believe the Torys lost the election rather than any great love for Labour or Starmer. People were just sick off them after 14 years. You are right about our institutions. They are the heart and soul of what it means to be British. Our other problem is we love putting ourselves down. We take a hell of a lot for granted in this wonderful land of ours.
Well, we have the spring statement on Tuesday but I can’t see anything much comiing out of that. The best thing Reeves can do is nothing. Just leave us alone. To use your words we have breathing space but time and money are running out. With Iran now, it might mean an increase in inflation. as per the Tories with Ukraine. Interest rates are the preserve of the B of E so we will see.
Paul, how long have you worked in the Labour Party policy unit? Because that statement sounded like a Party Political Broadcast for the Labour Party!
😂 Well, I did vote labour, but have voted Tory in the past when the left wing resentment threaten to control the party e.g. Corbyn. I’m not an economist but I accept the proposition that the cult of individualism, consumerism and short term gain which took root in the 70s and 80’s has undermined the integrity of the country. I believe ( with Reeves, Collier and Marianna Mazzucato) that supply side economic policies and a switch away from rent seeking behaviours are what we need. These policies are social democracy rather than socialism and are being implemented in a fairly ‘dirigiste’ fashion because the cabinet knows that a significant block of socialist labour MP’s and big unions don’t understand or subscribe to them. There is widespread puzzlement in voters who say they don’t know what Starmer stands for, and anger and indignation from people like Sharon Graham. But as a country we will only overcome threats like Putin by sticking together. Inclusion, teamwork and cameraderie are not the same as collectivism or communism.
By the way, neglected to say ‘uncle’. You got me there. 😉
Govt is “committed to securing the future of air platform manufacturing in the UK“. Glad to hear it. I look forward to the announcement of M346 assembly at Yeovil 😂
It’s no decision from this War Fighting Government…
It is a doom spiral. Sadly, only a war with a peer power will affect anything. The enemies within are gaining strength weekly, there will be a tipping point. Of course this is exploited by Russia and the Chicoms. Blame? Decades of political inaction and corruption at all levels.
I think we all know the Hawk replacement will be either the M-346 or the T7 Red Hawk. Maybe both could be license built in the UK. In service for 2030? I’d be amazed. Hawk T1 will likely stay in service with the Reds and extended until 2032+. That’s my guess anyway.
M-346.
D.I.P.? This is the Diminishing Investment Panic we keep hearing about is it? I
Any update on Aeralis? Is anything being built or flying? If so seems a shame, will be too late if at all.
Its not happening unfortunately.
It would require Government funding to to proceed to flying demonstrators.
The company and its investors have gone as far as it can, sadly, its looking like a dead end.
While I appreciate Aeralis is potentially much more than a trainer, its the trainer variants that kick-start the Light attack and UCAV variants.
The AT market is unfortunately flooded with excellent platforms already.
This really is getting tedious now. Like rabbits in the headlights HMG/MOD/Treasury are frozen with fear of doing anything. No new helicopters, no new aircraft no little tanks and very few big ones. and it is really handy that at least one of the options for trainers doesn’t exist yet so we can put that on the back burner ad infinitum.
If it is a major project all we get from this government is, stall, stall, stall we cannot keep on like this. Leonardo will pull the plug on Yeovil and eventually all other UK interests and transfer them abroad.
Other defence companies are keeping a close on on this and they will do the same even BAE systems will see the writing on the all. Russia must be laighing. Do you think this Labour government has been very successfully infiltrated by them?
So guys, I’m going to provoke a nice contentious debate amongst everyone.
1. Fact: The MOD and Politicians in the UK are just not up to the fast, efficient and seamless procurement of military assets to our professional colleagues in the UK military without delays and cost overruns.
On that basis, my personal view is that we should:
a) Hawk Replacement: Procure an immediate off the self platform with the Leonardo M345 or M346
b) Medium lift Helicopter: Procure the Sikorsky’s UH-60 Black Hawk, which is the preferred platform within UK military thinking, by benefitting from US standard production runs, and by providing a common platform integration with our partners within Europe and the US.
What are your thoughts?
Totally agree, off the shelf procurement of the M346 off the shelf, theres no other option.
I would have gone for a secondhand UH-60 option, refurbished and upgraded in the UK, by a company like Marshall’s in close cooperation with Sikorsky.
Good choice John, particularly with the UH-60
Boeing-Saab T-7