Source · Select Committees · Defence Committee
Recommendation 1
1
Accepted
Paragraph: 21
UK's reduced combat air fleet raises serious questions about deterrence and warfighting capability
Conclusion
With the prospect of UK involvement in a major war on the European continent closer than it has been for decades, there are serious questions as to whether the UK’s reduced combat air fleet still provides a sufficient deterrent and whether its limited numbers of admittedly highly capable aircraft could overcome a peer adversary in a warfighting context. These questions arise not only in the context of the UK’s sovereign capability, but also in relation to its contribution to any wider alliance.
Government Response Summary
The government asserts that its current combat air fleet, reinforced by investments from the 2021/2023 Defence Command Paper and its contribution to NATO, already provides a sufficient deterrent and warfighting capability. It argues that effectiveness is not solely determined by aircraft numbers but by multi-domain operations and competitive advantage.
Paragraph Reference:
21
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
Defence is threat-led, and decisions on the UK’s combat air mass will always be determined by the threats we face, now and in the future, with major decisions routinely taken as part of strategic defence reviews. Decisive hard power and the ability and readiness to fly and fight are essential parts of being able to operate and deter. As we set out in our written and oral evidence, however, in a world of multi-domain operations, effectiveness should not be judged solely by numbers of people or platforms; the conflict in Ukraine has further reinforced that competitive advantage does not always stem from mass alone. The decisions taken in the 2021 DCP, reinforced in the refresh in 2023, ensured investment will be directed to capabilities that will endure and provide relevance well into the next decade. While the F-35B Lightning fleet continues to grow in parallel, RAF Typhoon will remain the backbone of the combat air fighting force. Its newest 40 Tranche 3 aircraft will be equipped with the advanced ‘European Common Radar System 2’ which will enhance survivability and lethality, not only for the platform itself, but for other co-operating UK and allied force elements. The multi-role capabilities of Typhoon mean that it can be employed concurrently in both air-air and air-surface roles that would previously have required multiple platforms to conduct. Working as a force multiplier with other Typhoons and combat air platforms, by suppressing enemy air defences and achieving control of the air, it will enable operational effectiveness for the wider force. Typhoon and our growing F-35B Lightning fleet work in tandem, enabling their strengths to be multiplied and ensuring both 4th and 5th generation combat aircraft are integrated seamlessly, using each other’s impressive capabilities to maximise survivability and lethality. Moreover, when it comes to ‘mass’ it should be remembered that we are a leading member of NATO, and do not stand alone in countering the threats we face, making a significant contribution to a vast NATO-wide combat air force, and will continue to do so.