The Ministry of Defence has launched a tender for a surface finishing contract covering all fixed and rotary wing aircraft across RAF stations in the UK and at UK Strategic Command permanent joint operating bases overseas, with an estimated value of just under GBP 100 million excluding VAT and a contract period running from April 2027 to April 2037 with an option to extend by a further two years.
The tender notice, published on 22 April, describes the requirement as providing “a Surface Finishing capability for fixed and rotary wing aircraft, in order to support the maintenance of the airworthiness of the platforms in question as mandated by the respective Platform Engineering Authorities”, with the scope also covering airfield support equipment including mechanical transport and ground support equipment “in order to assist in corrosion control and visual signature control in accordance with current policies”, as well as miscellaneous station support tasks including the production of signage.
The contract is currently at tender stage, with suppliers required to complete a pre-selection questionnaire by 15 May 2026 to demonstrate suitability, technical and professional capability and financial standing, with those passing that stage potentially invited to a subsequent tender stage that may include refinement of requirements and negotiation before final submission. An award decision is expected by October 2026, ahead of the contract start date of April 2027.
Surface finishing is a critical element of military aircraft maintenance, with paint systems providing the primary barrier against corrosion on both metallic and composite airframes, and the visual signature control requirement reflecting the need to maintain low-observable finishes across the fleet.
I’ll say it first… British company allowed to repaint F35s? Thought the radar absorbent finish would be a fairly technical and highly classified paint job. Just a thought…
I heard that Labour are looking at a “Whitewash” option.
What is the better option? The conservatives destroyed the military through outsourcing everything at heavy costs and constant cuts to the budget and reform are made up of a load of ex conservative PMs and uncomfortably pro Putin.
I was just Joking 🤦♂️
You’re really suggesting that Labour are doing a good job? How was the trip to Mars?
From military perspective indifferent so far. They have done some very important structural changes like improving the housing and slightly increasing the overall budget. Plus not getting us involved in another pointless war. Civilian wise a lot of good that they don’t get credit for,.workers rights, renters rights, NHS waiting lists down,.etc.
I will judge them on the military when the plan comes out.
I can however judge the conservatives, 14 years and we know what happened. So rather the we will see with labour Vs we know.
You’re overlooking small details. Scrapping of 3 frigates, the RFA Argus, the 2 LPDs, the entire C130 Hercules fleet, no orders for aircraft, ships or tanks, magnificent management.
Can we stop talking about the scrapping of 3 frigates and Argus as a Labour decision. These vessels were at the end of their service lives and would have been scrapped whatever party were in government.
BigH, its fine to scrap old kit if you already have just fielded modern replacements.
Agreed Graham but to be fair to this lot it wasn’t them who delayed the replacements. You can’t use an unseaworthy ship.
I’ve gained $17,240 only within four weeks by comfortably working part-time from home. Immediately when I had lost my last business, I was very troubled and thankfully I’ve located this project now in this way I’m in a position to receive thousand USD directly from home. Each individual certainly can do this easy work & make more greenbacks online by visiting
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Good on the waiting lists. I could debate with you on workers and renters rights, considering what’s happened with unemployment and vacancies and the private rental sector. Sticking to defence though, I am very doubtful about the D.I.P., assuming it is ever published and now the Actiion Plan,( or whatever it’s called) has been postponed until next year. Very poor management after nearly two years. Still, as you say, we can only wait and see. You and I aren’t going to be able to change it.
If you are a worker or a renter and had the shocking practices happen to you then you would think different. Yes some rich people are suffering but I don’t care. Luckily I own my own house. Unemployment was already rising before them and has been globally post COVID, the connection is just being made by the Tory media.
Agree on the plan, it’s highly likely to be a load of vague statements but until it’s out we can’t judge.
I think we had better stick to defence Steve. We”ll wait and see.
I bet you are not on a waiting list to think that they have come down.
Thats horseshit.
Reform aren’t close to Putin in any way. One person has been prosecuted for being paid by Russia. One guy whos nothing.
If you want to look at whos been cosying up to Russia look at the Tories. Boris Johnson made Lebedev a Lord, his dads KGB!!!!
Russian money has been flooding into Londongrad for 3 decades, fuck all to do with Reform.
What point is it? Farage constantly praises Putin and has repeated word for word the talking points used by his former colleague that is now in jail for being a Russian asset. Including blaming the war on NATO which is basically treasan as his basically blaming the UK for starting it.
Total bollocks.
I’ve heard Farage criticising Putin many times.
Curious if you can find proof of that. His danced around the topic when cornerd but don’t remember him every stating anything negative.
Are you sure about your claim of military services being outsourced by the conservatives?
Did you forget Blair’s PFI deal with Airtanker Ltd for the provision of air to air refuelling that has paid for itself several times over already? The Labour party also introduced privatisation contracts for aircraft servicing, catering and stores manning.
Would guess the radar absorbing parts are, but they won’t cover the whole aircraft.
They are painted at RAF Marham. And a radar cross section measuring facility will also be constructed at Marham.
DM,
This Is your chance.
“I see a red door and I want to paint It Black”
“I wanna be a Painter, be a Painter, paint It Black”
It’s the drugs. 😊
Que?
Rolling Stones. A track from 1966. I expect you’ll find it on U Tube. Worth doing so.
Ah, thanks.
My wife thought it a musical quote when I asked her.
What I’m scratching my head about is what’s it to do with me?!!!!😄
I think Halfwit is still recovering from surgery, just roll with it. He will be back to “normal” soon enough! 🙂
Ha! Yes, I think there are clear signs that normal is indeed returning.
The first few Halfwit posts were not at the usual standard.
They’ve definitely improved!
DM, I swear you said you were a budding Painter ?
To combine your painting talents with such a prominent defence project would surely be a match made In Heaven ?
You might be up against the likes of Spook and Cringe though, but they might struggle using just Crayons.
😁🤦♂️🥱⚓🤔👀
Ahhhhh.
Mate, I’m being slow on the uptake ( not unusual ) nothing wrong with your memory.
I am. I have a website if you want to buy any. 😉
Ha, I’m crap at Art Buying, Got a shed load of Rolf Harris Paintings If you want any !
Nah. Mine will be worth more when I’m dead, as are many an artists works!
You guys are priceless!
How’s the “TREVOR” ?
I managed a bimble on “Trump” the Daytona yesterday, had clutch slip Issues but sorted that with a lever swap. Off out again shortly to see If the top half of the rev range works !!!
I have to pull off the float bowls and check the needles, got some flooding happening, other wise, down to interior/doors/suspension tune…Ta Daaaah! Sounds a bit nastier than I intended 🙂
see below !
I’ve gained $17,240 only within four weeks by comfortably working part-time from home. Immediately when I had lost my last business, I was very troubled and thankfully I’ve located this project now in this way I’m in a position to receive thousand USD directly from home. Each individual certainly can do this easy work & make more greenbacks online by visiting..
following website—.,.,.,.,.—>>> JobatHome1.Com
why cant we seem to do anything ourselves anymore.
always relying on others to do what we should be doing.
[ don’t tell me? Money??
The RAF doesn’t paint its own aircraft and hasn’t for years. The RAF has paint workshops for special liveries and battlefield repair and maintenance. But they don’t paint the whole aircraft. That happens at manufacture or currently by SERCO.
No doubt a more expensive option using Serco rather than in house painters and dopers
Probably not. That’s why it will be outsourced.
No its not. Turns that employing people who can be given a rifle and sent to ditch in Ukraine next week and have a non contributory index linked pension is more expensive that employing people that can’t be sent off to die and have defined benefit pension. The cost of armed forces pension per year currently is £2 billion. A warrant officer is on 62k a year an experienced vehicle painter is on 45k a year. The warrant officer gets housing plus up to 9k a year school fees on top. The armed forces are expensive to employ for good reasons but its better to have budget spent on actual defence rather than painters.
Ron, are you seriously suggesting that if the RAF recreated the ‘painter and finisher’ trade that it would be Warrant Officers wielding the spray gun?? They would be of the most junior rank.
Only a few service folk claim Continuity of Education Allowance (2,666 out of 143,558 regulars ie 1.8%), and they pay rent etc for their accommodation.
A key feature of using in-house manpower, as you say, is that they can do other duties including but not liited to Station guard duties.
There’s no difference in pay scale, its all the same rate at rank. You think someone is going to spend 40 years without a promotion?
Just checking, are you insinuating that a WO gets £62K per annum as a pension, whilst the painter gets £45k? I definitely don’t get that as pension and I got my Commission after going up through the ranks.
I thought Serco had form with this Speciality ?.
The RAF dissolved the Painter and Finisher trade in 2006 under the Labour Party cuts where the RAF reduced manpower from 50,000 to 41,000, also contracting other capabilities in the process. It’s unfortunate this capability is now contracted with the loss of around 350 RAF service posts which often deployed globally supporting various military roles.
Exactly.
And? The cost of armed forces pension per year currently is £2 billion. A warrant officer is on 62k a year an experienced vehicle painter is on 45k a year. The warrant officer gets housing plus up to 9k a year school fees on top. The armed forces are expensive to employ for good reasons but its better to have budget spent on actual defence rather than painters.
That’s because you have to pay them a competitive wage, otherwise nobody would join, the younger recruits would be working for Mcdonalds etc!
……..And the lowest price is submitted by The Putin Painting Corporation, FSB Quality Assured testimonials provided by Messrs. Witkoff and Kushner.
Have bucket of valspar will travel.
I could do with another business.
I mentioned “Whitewash” earlier but It went completely over “Steve’s” head. (so to speak).
I could see a Scottish option using “Pebble Dash”, most Crofts North of the border seem to be Pebble dashed,
maybe a “Banksy” might apply, that would be Interesting.
Just popping to the garage for a few Rattle Cans, see you later.
I’m sure there’s a painters around the corner that can do it for £500 and a can of larger.
The UK fleet uses the standard global F-35 “Z-13” overcoat, which was introduced to streamline production. BAE and Serco are authorized to do this work spec.
Main Body Color: FS36170 (Camouflage Gray / Have Glass V) Markings Color: FS36231 (Dark Gull Gray) Finish Type:Satin to Semi-Gloss metallic
Primary Facility: RAF Marham, Norfolk
Cool, can you sell me some Triumph Racing Yellow please, I have a few stone chips on the new bike ?
Sorry its been renamed by Presidential order to Trump racing yellow.
“Trump”
That’s It, Im going to call It Trump.
Always like to name my bikes and “Trump” Is a shortened version of “Trumpet” which Is a name often used for Triumphs.
Fantastic Ron. 😁
To heck with the defence situation, Halfwit is back in form and that makes my day!
Funny thing, my cars have names but only one of my bikes has one.
Ha ha !
It’s nice to know I make someone’s day !!!
Bike names are hard, I have “Solitaire” the Grom. “Trump” the Daytona. “The Black Thing” Hayabusa, “Ape” the Tuono but no names for the others.
Those are good names! I like Solitaire. My TVR is Kato, Rover P5 is George(Gently), Rover P6 is Bonnie, BSA B25T is Mattie, everything else is generic. Mazdaspeed is the Speed, KZ, ‘Strom are obvious.
Lets hope that the contractor has a good stock of Rainbow Colours…
Need someone with experience to do the job. Maybe Palestine Action?