Source · Select Committees · Defence Committee
Recommendation 5
5
Rejected
Paragraph: 41
Deliver Typhoon fleet upgrades at pace and consider mothballing Tranche 1 aircraft
Conclusion
Planned sensor and weapons upgrades to the Typhoon fleet must be delivered at pace. In light of the RAF’s lack of any operational reserve, the MoD should seriously consider mothballing the Tranche 1 Typhoons which are due to be retired in 2025 rather than disposing of them.
Government Response Summary
The government has rejected the recommendation to mothball Tranche 1 Typhoons, citing that regeneration would cost over £300 million due to capability, obsolescence, and regulatory needs. It also states retaining them would prevent harvesting components essential for sustaining Tranche 2 and 3 aircraft.
Paragraph Reference:
41
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
In deciding to retire the bulk of Tranche 1 Typhoon in 2025 (four will be maintained until 2027), the MOD has carefully considered all available options. While it would be feasible 4 Aviation Procurement: Winging It?: Government Response to retain the aircraft in storage, maintaining them in a condition where they could be regenerated to provide an effective capability would require investment in excess of £300 million (and potentially much more) to address significant capability, obsolescence and regulatory needs. All the other core Typhoon nations are also expected to retire their Tranche 1 aircraft over the next decade. The Tranche 1 design is such that some of these limitations would remain even after significant investment. Additionally, retaining these aircraft in storage would also preclude the planned harvesting of key components (known as ‘Reduce to Produce’) to sustain Typhoon Tranche 2 & 3; inability to harvest these components would materially affect Typhoon availability beyond 2025 or require a compensating major investment in component manufacture and repair above that currently planned. A decision to retain Tranche 1 in storage would therefore only be possible through significant reductions in investment for Typhoon Tranche 2 & 3 or in other capabilities, offering neither operational benefit or financial value for money.