Defence minister Maria Eagle confirmed to Parliament {that a} competitors can be opened to exchange the venerable British-designed coaching jet, additionally utilized by the Crimson Arrows show workforce.
The advice to acquire a brand new “cost-effective quick jet coach” to exchange the Hawk was included within the UK Strategic Defence Overview, launched in early June, however a press release made in Parliament – coinciding with a go to by Prime Minister Keir Starmer to RAF Valley – has change into our first affirmation that wheels are in movement on the alternative programme.
Minister of State for Defence Procurement and Trade Maria Eagle, responding to a query from a fellow Member of Parliament (MP), confirmed that “The strategic defence evaluation really useful that the Hawk T1 and T2 get replaced with an economical superior jet coach. The long run platform of the Royal Air Drive aerobatic workforce is being thought-about on the identical time, and a Royal Air Drive programme workforce is being established to ship that functionality.”
She added, in response to a comply with up query from one other MP: “I guarantee him that the competitors will welcome any bids from UK-based suppliers.” This confirms {that a} competitors is deliberate for the choice of an plane kind.
Right now, the timeframe for this competitors to happen is unknown, and is prone to have but to be definitively confirmed even throughout the service. The Hawk T2’s earlier out of service date (OSD) was scheduled to be 2040, however points with reliability led to then Chief of the Air Workers, Air Chief Marshal Sir Wealthy Knighton, saying “Talking fairly frankly, I want to change the Hawk T2 as quickly as we are able to, to ship a extra trendy, extra dependable, better capability” in 2024.
Knighton mentioned the armed forces have been getting roughly half as a lot use out of the Hawk T2 airframes than can be desired. Notably, ACM Wealthy Knighton is now, as of Jun. 27, 2025, subsequent in line to change into the UK’s Chief of the Defence Workers (CDS). CDS is the best rating member of the UK armed forces, and studies on to the Secretary of State for Defence and the Prime Minister. Knighton will assume this function from September 2025.
Throughout the Prime Minister’s aforementioned go to to RAF Valley, residence of the Royal Air Drive’s Hawk T2s, he talked about that discussions had taken place with personnel on the station relating to alternative plane.
We requested the Prime Minister: will Hawk jet coaching be revised – and are replacements on the horizon?
Sir Keir Starmer shared his ideas throughout a go to to RAF Valley, the place he met with trainee fighter pilots.
🔗👉 pic.twitter.com/LvpufKiXqh
— BFBS Forces Information (@ForcesNews) June 30, 2025
The Hawk T2 has been used as a complicated jet coach for RAF pilots since 2012, and totally assumed all duties on this function in 2016 with the disbandment of Hawk T1-equipped 208 Squadron. The T1 remained in service with aggressor squadrons 100 Squadron and 736 Naval Air Squadron, in addition to the RAF Centre for Aviation Drugs (RAFCAM) till 2022.
From 2022, all Hawk T1 operations have been folded into the Crimson Arrows, with the workforce now additionally liable for all remaining Hawk T1 testing, trials, and coaching. Hawk T1’s present deliberate OSD is 2030, and the service believes there’s ample airframe life among the many fleet to see them by means of to this date.
Hawk T1s first entered RAF service in 1976. The Hawk T2, internally designated by the producer as Hawk 128, took the essential Hawk design and constructed on export variants that had been produced for quite a few nations to create a modernised jet coach extra reminiscent for pilots of present frontline plane just like the Storm. Solely round 10% of components are widespread between the 2 variants.
Contenders
The marketplace for superior jet trainers has change into an increasing number of saturated as particular person nations have taken on the duty of manufacturing their very own home-grown designs, which sit together with merchandise from trade giants in america and Europe.
Within the U.S. Air Drive, the jet coach function at the moment fulfilled by the Northrop T-38 Talon can be assumed by the Boeing-Saab T-7A Crimson Hawk. No evaluation of the choices accessible can be full with out the Crimson Hawk’s inclusion, though a UK adoption would appear unlikely for quite a few causes. Other than delays pushing again full entry into service, the plane’s use of an afterburning turbofan to supply the USAF requirement of supersonic flight provides important expense and complexity to the upkeep and operation of the plane.
The RAF, together with many different air arms, have shied away from this degree of efficiency of their jet trainers. With no strong UK associate, it is usually unlikely any important a part of the manufacturing course of may very well be accomplished domestically within the UK, making it a extra unattractive prospect from political and financial standpoints.
Powered by the identical F404 engine, the Turkish Hürjet has nonetheless seen export success in Europe with Spain signing on for twenty-four of the jets. Rising defence trade cooperation between Turkey and the UK makes this a extra fascinating contender, although, in contrast to Spain, the UK couldn’t depend on present expertise and provide chains for the F404 engine, which can be utilized in Spain’s F/A-18 Hornets.
Leonardo gives each the M-345 and M-346 trainers. The M-345 is meant as a extra primary coach, whereas M-346 gives better efficiency with twin engines and an improved skill to be employed as a light-weight frontline fighter. Leonardo has a major presence within the UK, with Leonardo Helicopters nonetheless working from the Yeovil facility traditionally utilized by Westland, after which AgustaWestland, so there’s a extra important prospect of UK manufacturing involvement to a point.
An M-345 plane the truth is arrived at MoD Boscombe Down, the UK’s centre for army plane trials and testing, in late Might. Leonardo knowledgeable us that Qinetiq environmental check heart has been chosen by Leonardo as best suited check facility for M-345 plane remaining qualification for operation below excessive environmental configuration in devoted hangars or laboratories.
Arguably, the M-346 can be the extra appropriate providing for the RAF, already being utilized in Italy as a lead-in coach for the Storm and F-35. RAF pilots have already undertaken coaching programs utilizing the plane as a part of the Worldwide Flight Coaching Faculty (IFTS) in Decimomannu, Italy. Moreover, as there’s the requirement to exchange the aerobatic plane of the Crimson Arrows show workforce, the RAF would possibly observe the reversal of the Italian Air Drive’s resolution to equip their Frecce Tricolori workforce with M-345s, and as a substitute go for the M-346.
Enter Aeralis
Aeralis, a British firm, is seen as a robust contender to construct the Hawk’s successor. The corporate has but to provide an plane, however has been engaged on its Superior Jet Coach proposal with UK Authorities funding for quite a few years. Aiming for a modular design, Aeralis hopes {that a} widespread plane design may very well be utilized in a wide range of roles with comparatively minor airframe reconfigurations permitting tailoring for various duties.
Nonetheless, with no prototype but in flight, a safe order acquired now would nonetheless possible not end in operational airframes earlier than the tip of the last decade.
The place Aeralis has a robust edge is in its provenance as a wholly British airframe, that means all design, growth, and manufacturing may very well be stored throughout the UK. For this procurement, this isn’t solely vital from an financial and political standpoint, however as some extent of status and promoting for British trade – the Crimson Arrows have at all times flown British plane and acted as a worldwide ambassador for the British aerospace sector.
There’s the potential for a maritime variant suitable with the Queen Elizabeth class plane carriers to be developed. This might more than likely be a catapult and arrester wire suitable design, making the most of proposed modifications to the carriers to permit the operation of a better number of unmanned platforms.
Whereas these modifications are unlikely to end in a CATOBAR structure able to sustained operations with closely laden service plane just like the F-35C Lightning II, the Superior Jet Coach’s measurement and weight would possible be extra similar to bigger sorts of drones.
The RN has formidable plans for the QEC plane carriers and the Future Maritime Aviation Drive (FMAF) pic.twitter.com/OllUggo3km
— Navy Lookout (@NavyLookout) June 3, 2023
Aeralis has agreements in place with quite a few main trade companions within the UK, and has earmarked a number of areas for potential manufacturing services. Gosport, close to Portsmouth, and Prestwick, Scotland, are two notable contenders receiving media consideration. Funding throughout the UK will current a extra favorable case to the Treasury, because it means though upfront prices could also be larger there’s a larger likelihood of the cash staying throughout the UK’s economic system.
All of those elements, and extra, will should be thought-about by the RAF programme workforce forward of the official launch of requests for proposals and tenders, which can element the precise necessities extra totally.
