Labour's “dither and delay” over boosting defence spending could cost lives, critics have warned, after an RAF training jet crashed in flames in North Wales. Ministers have been urged to hike the budget to help replace Britain's ageing military equipment following a string of embarrassments.
The stark warning comes after an RAF Hawk jet exploded into a fireball following a shock crash shortly after take-off from RAF Valley, Anglesey, on Wednesday. Fortunately, the two pilots, who ejected moments before the jet plummeted to the ground, are expected to make a full recovery after sustaining minor injuries. But the incident has triggered renewed demands for the government to speed up its decision on hiking defence spending.
Reform UK urges government to 'wake up and smell the jet fuel'
Reform UK said the government must “wake up and smell the jet fuel” and bolster spending on the British Armed Forces. The party said: “The government needs to wake up and smell the jet fuel.
“This latest RAF crash is yet another stark reminder that Britain's armed forces are being left to operate with ageing equipment while Labour dithers.
“Our pilots and sailors deserve modern, reliable kit and a serious commitment to defence spending, not more delay and excuses.”
Hawk fleet grounded as precautionary measure
The Hawk fleet has been grounded as a “precautionary measure” following the incident. The pause has sparked fears of further delays to the RAF fast jet training pipeline, described as “parlous” by one source.
Shadow Minister for Defence Procurement Ben-Obese Jecty MP said: “It is welcome news that both pilots ejected safely and are expected to make a full recovery and we support the decision to temporarily ground the Hawk jets.
“However this underlines the importance of securing a replacement for this ageing fleet.
“Labour has dithered and delayed over the decision to replace the Hawk Jet Trainer. One UK Company, Aeralis, even went into administration blaming Labour's inability to publish a funded DIP.
“Having stated earlier this year that the Hawk T2 no longer met future training demands, this incident will place further scrutiny on Labour's decision to delay choosing its replacement.
“Until the end of the 2029/30 financial year, Labour is expected to spend £860 million on the Hawk — £500 million more than the amount earmarked for its successor during the period.”
Earlier this year, Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard said the money will be used to “maintain the safe operation” of the Hawk until the arrival of the future jet training system.
Wider concerns over military readiness
It comes amid wider concerns around the state of the military as Prime Minister Andy Burnham resists calls to increase defence spending to 3% of GDP by 2030. The British Army has been told to halt non-essential training exercises in a bid to save cash, while the Navy — which is at its smallest in living memory — continues to struggle to get some of its warships and submarines out to sea.
The First Sea Lord has called for more vessels and drones to counter Vladimir Putin, warning Britain must “rediscover what it means to be a maritime nation”. Earlier this year there was embarrassment when HMS Dragon was unable to set sail for Cyprus for weeks because it was undergoing repairs.
The Hawk T1s, currently flown by the Red Arrows, are due to go out of service in 2030. They have been flown at displays since 1980 and there are fears a replacement won't be ready before then, even if an order is placed imminently.
The updated T2s, used to train military fast jet pilots, have suffered from repeated availability, reliability and engine issues. They are not due to go out of service until 2040 but the military chief has signalled intentions to have them replaced sooner.
The requirement for new advanced jet trainers was detailed in last year's Strategic Defence Review. The RAF's fast jet training programme has faced significant scrutiny in recent years. It is understood some pilots have been left in the pipeline for as long as eight years, with some sent to do desk jobs while waiting.
There are concerns the pause in Hawk flying, as an investigation into the crash continues, could only extend this backlog. Much of the training is being outsourced overseas, including in the US and Italy.
Liberal Democrat MP Mike Martin, Commons Defence Committee member, said: “These things do happen and it's right we wait for the investigation to include.
“However, on top of the recent Royal Navy helicopter crash in Devon, it does raise questions about our war readiness and availability of British military airframes.”
The Boeing-Saab T-7A Red Hawk, in collaboration with BAE Systems, is believed to be the frontrunner to replace the Hawk. Other aircraft are in the running but Aeralis, the firm behind the only UK-designed-and-built option, entered administration earlier this year. Manufacturers were invited to register their interest for the contract by September 11.
The Ministry of Defence has been contacted for comment.
