In Warton and Lancashire, BAE Systems’ workforce takes pride in producing the world-leading Typhoon fighter jet. Yet, amid an assembly line that has recently been emptied, jobs hang in the balance - with the UK now being the only partner in Eurofighter not buying its own aircraft. Turkey’s decision to buy Typhoons has given a boost to hopes at the Warton site, but the question remains: when will the UK itself step up?
To secure the nation’s sovereign air-combat capabilities, continued production of the Typhoon at Warton must be ensured. While the Turkish order is welcome and a testament to decades of investment and skill, export orders alone are insufficient to sustain the program.
Shockingly, the UK Government has opted to purchase 25 US F-35 jets instead of investing in our new, British-manufactured Typhoons. This choice leaves the UK as the only partner in the Eurofighter consortium not to buy its own aircraft. How can the UK expect to sell future orders for the aircraft when it’s not willing to buy it itself?
Moreover, without UK investment, the future of UK aerospace is in jeopardy. It endangers thousands of jobs and the loss of essential skills. It also threatens the country’s capacity to design, assemble, test, and develop fighter aircraft independently, which is more important than ever in an increasingly unstable world.
Even with Turkey’s purchase, a production gap of two to three years looms for Warton, risking the collapse of the workforce and capabilities. To close this gap, roughly 100 additional Typhoon orders are needed until the Tempest programme can take over. Maintaining Typhoon investment is crucial for the RAF, as both Tempest and Typhoon will serve complementary roles in future combat scenarios.
Last Wednesday, I was granted a Westminster Hall debate on Typhoon fighter jet sovereign capability, urging the government to reconsider its position. As the saying goes, their response was disappointing, but not surprising. Congratulations and thanks from the responding minister quickly proved to be empty words when he refused to confirm whether they would reconsider their decision not to invest.
So this week, I want to pay tribute to the dedication and resilience of the BAE workforce, who are still waiting for their government to support them and safeguard the future of UK aerospace sovereignty. I will continue to fight for jobs in Fylde and advocate for a stronger, British-produced defence sector in Parliament.
