The union Unite has urged the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) to prioritize British interests in its decisions regarding the procurement of new fighter aircraft.
Unite stated that it understands that a government decision regarding the acquisition of new aircraft for the Royal Air Force is forthcoming, with options being considered between the Eurofighter Typhoon and the F-35(A). The organization is urging the government to allocate funds for an additional batch of Typhoon fighter jets to guarantee that the UK preserves its industrial skill set in preparation for the 6th generation Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP).
The call also comes shortly after a report last week from the UK’s defence select committee that highlighted the importance of UK’s industrial capability and skills base for Tempest/GCAP to be a success.
The anticipated commencement of full-scale production for Tempest is not expected until the 2030s. Consequently, maintaining the final assembly capabilities along with the current workforce of 6,500 at BAE Systems for the Typhoon will pose a considerable challenge. This situation will be further complicated by the decline of the UK Typhoon production line.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The UK possess some of the finest engineers and technicians of fast jets anywhere in the world. With a decision on fast-jet procurement imminent, the government needs to take decisive action to retain these workers and ensure that we are in a position to get more skilled jobs from Tempest/GCAP.”
“We have been saying for some time that The MoD needs to place a further order for Typhoon aircraft, which will fulfil a military requirement, maintain industrial capacity and preserve jobs and skills.”
“Labour must now step up to the plate and make the clear unequivocal investment decisions that workers and their employers desperately need.”
Unite emphasized that a UK order for 24 F35s would provide only two to three months of employment for 2,000 individuals in Britain, while an order for 24 Typhoons would sustain 26,000 jobs over a two-year period for employees at BAE Systems, Rolls Royce, Leonardo, and within the UK supply chain. Acquiring Typhoons not only reflects a commitment to British employment and economic growth but also signifies trust in a defense product with a substantial export potential.
Rhys McCarthy, Unite defence and aerospace national officer, said: “These are highly skilled and well-paid jobs in areas of the UK where this sort of work is hard to come by. In an increasingly unstable world it would be reckless not to ensure that our own domestic defence industry is properly supported and capable of meeting the security challenges we face.”
“The government has been clear that the British economy needs growth and that our defence industry is crucial to this. Selling the Typhoon overseas can contribute to our GDP but we cannot expect foreign governments to buy our fast jets if our own government won’t. It’s clear that they need to make a decision to ‘make and buy British.”
