The UK’s combat air sector – vital for our economy, security and sovereignty

As the UK government carefully considers measures to assist a programme of economic recovery from the impact of Covid-19, BAE Systems and companies across the UK’s combat air sector are continuing to recruit and train staff and develop leading-edge technologies in collaboration with our boldest and brightest minds across industry and universities. This is in support of Tempest – our vision to deliver the most ambitious combat air programme in living memory.

The UK’s combat air sector is a vital element of our economy. It has a turnover in excess of £6 billion a year and accounts for more than 80 per cent of defence exports over the past decade. It is highly productive and sustains more than 46,000 skilled jobs, many of them in engineering and manufacturing roles. It maintains the UK’s ‘freedom of action’, in defence terms, by delivering an independent air defence capability which underpins the vital security of our nation.

From its manufacturing heartland in the north of England, the sector’s footprint reaches all regions of the United Kingdom, driving prosperity across our country and supporting the critical ‘levelling up’ agenda. Combat aircraft programmes including Hawk and Typhoon have delivered impressive economic return for the UK. The initial £800 million the government invested in Hawk led to the most successful trainer aircraft in history, with more than 1,000 platforms sold and the vast majority exported, delivering a return of more than £16 billion to the UK economy. On Eurofighter Typhoon, the UK government has invested £12 billion, but from export sales has seen double that revenue return to the UK economy, with the potential of more to come.

Two years ago, the UK government launched its Combat Air Strategy, which reinforced the importance of the sector to delivering our national security priorities. It also recognised the sector’s critical contribution to developing technological advances, prosperity, productivity, industrial partnerships, international collaboration and our standing in the world.

The strategy set out a bold vision for how the UK will remain at the forefront in this critical sector and continue to deliver economic, industrial capability and skills benefits, as well as outlining the international partnering and continuing export potential of the sector.