The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that no decisions have been made on the replacement of the UK’s jet trainer aircraft, with ministers awaiting the outcome of the ongoing Strategic Defence Review before committing to a way forward.

In a written response to Conservative MP James Cartlidge (South Suffolk), Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry Maria Eagle stated that “ministers and officials from the Ministry of Defence regularly meet for routine discussions with a range of defence sector aerospace companies, including those who produce jet trainer aircraft.”

When asked specifically about whether she had met with candidates from the UK, United States or other nations since July 2024, Eagle did not provide a list of firms, instead reiterating that the conversations were part of standard engagement with industry.

She confirmed that “the UK’s Hawk T1 aircraft is scheduled to remain in service until 2030 and the Hawk T2 aircraft out-of-service date is in 2040,” adding that “a decision on the production, sustainment and replacement of the aircraft will not be taken until after the Strategic Defence Review is completed.”

The response follows an oral exchange in the House of Commons on 24 March, during which the future of the RAF’s trainer fleet was raised. With both Hawk variants expected (in some capacity) to remain operational for at least the next five to fifteen years, the MoD has yet to initiate a formal acquisition process for their successors.

The Hawk has served as the RAF’s advanced jet trainer since the 1970s, and any future replacement is likely to form a core component of the UK’s military flying training system. Several companies, including domestic and international contenders, are understood to be interested in offering next-generation training platforms.

The Strategic Defence Review—expected later in 2025—is set to determine the shape of the UK’s future force structure and could influence the timeline and scope of any replacement programme.

Tom Dunlop
Tom has spent the last 13 years working in the defence industry, specifically military and commercial shipbuilding. His work has taken him around Europe and the Far East, he is currently based in Scotland.

16 COMMENTS

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      • Just looked it up: impressive – competitive with T-50. What’s interesting is that a British MP and a member of the French National assembly both ask a question about airforce trainer replacements on the same day; co-incidence? Maybe the Starmer – Macron love in is bearing fruit. Seem to remember the Jaguar worked out pretty well.

  2. Hawk T1 to remain in service till 2030.
    Pity most of them were already cut.
    100 Sqn RAF, 736 NAS FAA, and the 2 with the IAM.

  3. Wtf is there to review? We need a replacement regardless of what the review says. It’s just a bs excuse to put off making a decision as per usual.

  4. The usual short sighted procurement system. If there was any sense in the system – updated Hawks with more modern instruments/avionics should have already been in progress. At the end of the day, for training new grow bags, an aircraft with a half decent performance is all that is needed. Not as if its ever going to a front line jet. The basic Hawk design/performance still does the basic fast jet training job.

    • Yes as I understood it, there is no Funding available for a replacement Trainer, and even if there was the RAF have no interest in the Hawk platform.

      • 13th Feb 25, Aeralis ( which is already teamed up with Thales UK) has opened a subsidiary in France. One to watch.

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