British fighter jet production faces uncertain future as RAF eyes US planes

UKʼs last Typhoon fighter jet assembly line goes quiet after finishing Qatarʼs order. Defense officials consider buying American F-35s while union leaders warn about risks to British aviation industry

November 14 2024 , 12:10 PM  •  292 views

British fighter jet production faces uncertain future as RAF eyes US planes

The UKʼs fighter jet industry faces a cross-roads as production of home-built Typhoons at BAE Systems Preston-area plant has come to a stand-still. The facility which finished a multi-billion pound Qatar order this fall‚ doesnt have new assembly work lined up

Steve McGuinness from Unite union told MPs in a letter that the situation is critical: “No Typhoons are being final-assembled at Warton site and no orders for future aircraft exist.“ The factory still makes front-parts for other European countries but these get shipped abroad for completion

Defense officials seem to be looking across the Atlantic — reports suggest RAF might pick US-made F-35s over new Typhoons. This choice could affect Britainʼs air-defense future (especially the next-gen Tempest program development)

Essentially production has stopped for British-built Typhoon aircraft

Unite union statement to defense committee

The factoryʼs history spans about 25 years with 160 jets made for RAF‚ but no new UK orders since 09. Meanwhile other consortium members stay active: Germany ordered 20 more planes this summer after Russia-Ukraine events started. Industry experts point to possible deals with:

  • Turkey (40 aircraft planned)
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Egypt
  • Poland

BAE says production will run through late-20s‚ thanks to parts manufacturing for Qatar Germany and Spain orders. However union leaders want government to order 24 new jets — making Britain the only Eurofighter group member without fresh orders on books