The UK Defence Journal understands that damage sustained during a protest at RAF Brize Norton has left two RAF Voyager engines with shortened cleared life, forcing the RAF to bring forward major maintenance on a key element of the UK’s air mobility fleet.
Responding to questions from Conservative MP James Cartlidge, Defence Minister Luke Pollard confirmed that both engines affected in the June incident have been repaired and reinstated. He said that “whilst the engines damaged on 20 June 2025 have since been inspected and returned into service, their reduced cleared life will necessitate a significant overhaul within the next two years.”
Pollard also stated that the Ministry of Defence cannot yet quantify the financial impact, explaining that “the financial impact of the incident will not be known until that overhaul is complete, and it is known which parts will need to be replaced.”
The MoD did not state that the Voyager fleet’s readiness has formally fallen, but the requirement to accelerate heavy maintenance introduces pressure on an already lean strategic fleet. The RAF operates just fourteen Voyagers to cover simultaneous tasks ranging from air-to-air refuelling for fast jets to long-range transport of personnel and equipment. Any unplanned reduction in engine life complicates long-term availability planning and increases costs.
Cartlidge also asked whether legal action would be pursued against those responsible. Pollard reiterated that charging decisions sit with civilian authorities, saying “it is for the investigating authority to make determinations about any charges.”
Background to the protest group’s claims
Palestine Action has previously argued that RAF Brize Norton supports Israeli combat operations, citing this as justification for targeting RAF Voyager tankers. The group claimed that RAF aircraft refuel Israeli fighter jets, presenting the sabotage as an attempt to obstruct those operations.
As UK Defence Journal has reported, the RAF’s Voyager KC2 and KC3 tankers use the probe and drogue method of aerial refuelling. This system requires a flexible hose with a drogue basket, and receiving aircraft must have a refuelling probe that connects with the drogue. It is used by platforms such as the Typhoon and F35B across the UK and NATO.
Israeli fighter aircraft including the F15 and F16 use the flying boom method. This is a fundamentally different system involving a rigid, steerable boom extending from the tanker into a receptacle in the receiving aircraft. Israel employs converted Boeing 707 tankers and KC46 aircraft which carry flying boom systems. They cannot receive fuel from RAF Voyagers under any circumstances.
The stated justification for the sabotage was therefore based on a claim that is technically impossible. That disconnect is now central to the policy discussion about the group’s methods. The action caused material harm to critical air mobility assets and reduced engine life on two RAF aircraft, and it did so on a pretext that had no engineering validity.
That sounds like a strong basis for really going for the criminals who are assaulting our national security.
We have put the traitor Nathan Gill away for 14 years minus remission for a Guilty Plea.
Let’s hope that these sentences can be similar, plus personal liability for damage done – pour encourager les autres.
And it should be a big wake up call to improve security on all base sites as this should never have happened in the first place! People have been asleep at their screens!
Hmmm…evidently a kinder, gentler, more understanding RAF avoids the language of USAF postings at MOBs: Use of Deadly Force Authorized. Dunno, generally seems to diminish the ardour of protest movements…🤔😉
That would be because the law in the UK doesn’t permit the use of lethal force to protect property, because unlike the USA we’re a civilised nation and we understand that you can always buy a new thing but you can’t buy a new life.
Even if you are a waste of DNA like these pro terrorist, oh excuse me, pro palestinian clowns?
That is one of the points where I think the Americans have gotten it right.
Property rights are the basis for capitalism which is what creates good in people and societies.
One of the reasons the left are so pro-crime is to undermine that.
USA stand you ground laws are valid and the idea of defensive shooting has currency.
In the UK not so.
That said the rules on military bases should be rather different but that does require boundaries that are more than hedge+ or garden fence+.
This is where a pair of good high fences with razor wire and warning on them then enable harsher measures within. Preferably with a ram proof cable barrier in between. The fences obviously
Totally agree.
If you are a sabotaging military infrastructure, then you are a domestic terrorist and a clear enemy combatant.
I have absolutely no issue with lethal force being used, none what so ever.
Speaking from commercial aerospace maintenance repair and overhaul, the costs of a deep overhaul are considerable as the original equipment manufacturer procedures must be followed with copious evidence of before and after of every part, which takes from 84 days and upwards depending on the MRO choices made.
Because fully trained and certified aerospace engineers are required for this work along with specialist calibrated equipment the cost typically runs into millions.
Obviously, safety first, and nobody is content to endanger hundreds of passengers and the operators flight crew.
There’s a reason why aviation has the safest passenger miles flown compared to other transport modes.
The RAF Airtanker Fleet is supported by RR Missioncare, which as they have similar for all the Trent powered A330 MRTT means they do pool them !
Thanks, sounds like efficient taxpayer value. However engine MRO still involves six figure costs for major service actions that PA or other activists are very unlikely to be able to fund. If the rumors about their funding were true and so Iranian origin money could be confiscated to pay for this it would be better that the more likely Insurance claim. Sadly underwriters probably will take the loss, making future cover more expensive for taxpayers.
I doubt they will claim against Insurance, it’s a bit like leaving the keys in your car and then trying to claim for it being stolen. It’s an RAF base with £Billlions worth of assets and pretty well left unguarded !
I heard these are not RAF but civilian company owned assets so like the rest of commercial aviation are insured to protect shareholders capital investment, and since this wasn’t an act of war, would be covered.
Underwriters will have done their risk assessment and determined the premium accordingly. Presumably aware that the base is almost unguarded as you suggest.
Compared to the segregation between ground and airside following previous attacks on commercial airports this seems so poor as to be negligent.
Nobody can just stroll onto the airside at a major airport, most of which have armed police on guard, permanently.
I am very much in favour of civil recovery for deliberate damage or profiteering from crime. Imprisonment costs the taxpayers a huge amount each year. Recovery might not be quick or complete but take what you can and place a surcharge on culprits for life if necessary following conviction.
It’s been alleged that Iran is behind some of the gang / drug violence in Sweden. It wouldn’t surprise me if they were also active in the UK, covertly supporting this kind of activity. This is an open and shut case of criminal damage. I hate to think what the cost of properly protecting bases will be, when our resources are already stretched. Not to mention the complete fiasco of Ajax.
Send them the bill.
yup, big difference splashing paint on outside surfaces to chucking it into an engine
If anyone wants to do some reading about who backs Palestinian Action just read up on James Cox Chambers Jnr AKA “Fergie” Chambers. A US multi millionaire / Marxist, pro Iran, Anti Israel, Pro Putin, Anti Ukraine activist who pays all their legal fees. Hence why they have top of the line legal representation in court !
Downing Street.
Exactly. Always practiced slow, deliberative movements on/near flight lines. Badge always displayed. Quartered once w/ SAC alert crews while TDY, due to construction. Very careful dealing w/ SF, absolutely aware any opportunity would be cheerfully seized to administer a faceplant. 🤔🙄😁
There is an issue HMG needs to address using reasonable non-emergency powers legislation. There are groups whose members are willing to take direct action. The issue HMG has is that it is known foreign intelligence services and terrorist groups have infiltrated. These “Useful Idiots”(UI’s) are a genuine threat to national security. The UI’s are funded and provided with intelligence by these organisations. However, no one has yet been charged with terror offences, with the CPS only willing to pursue non-terror offences.
An example is the event last August at Elbit Systems in Bristol. Five police officers and an employee of Elbit were taken to the hospital following an attack at their Bristol factory. Seven of those who were arrested at the site appeared in Wollwich Crown Court on the 21st November.
You can see a video of the event on YouTube. The level of violence they were prepared to use was sufficient for a police officer to suffer from a fractured spine. Samuel Corner, 22, is charged with grievous bodily harm for “unlawfully and maliciously” wounding Sgt Kate Evans “with intent to resist or prevent the lawful apprehension or detention of another”. Basically, he is alleged to have hit the police Sergeant twice in the back with a sledgehammer, something you can see in the video. Of the seven police officers taken to the hospital, two were seriously assaulted with a sledgehammer.
The group in the video is seen threatening staff at the Elbit Systems factory to get them to leave so they can cause damage. The range of charges the members of the group face is: Criminal damage, violent disorder and aggravated burglary.
What hasn’t been widely reported is that two men from Warwickshire and Manchester were arrested in connection with planning and supplying the group with intelligence for the attack. They were arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism under section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
The problem facing the country is: what measures can the government take without new, draconian laws that affect everyone’s right to protest peacefully? Ministry of Defence facilities and manufacturing centres, even those owned by Israel, need to be robustly protected.