British firm vying to build next Red Arrows jets goes into administration


The Hawk T1 jet, as used by the Red Arrows, will go out of service in 2030

A British aerospace company that was developing a replacement for the famous Red Arrows fighter jet has gone into administration, resulting in the loss of about 30 jobs.

Aeralis had pitched itself as the only British firm able to supply a new advanced jet trainer that would be designed and built in the UK. The firm was hoping the UK government would award it a contract to replace the Hawk jets currently flown by the RAF's Red Arrows before they are due to be retired in 2030.

The administrators said the company had faced "a sustained period of pressure" on its cashflow after "continued delays to the UK Defence Investment Plan, combined with geopolitical factors affecting sources of funding".

A Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokesperson said: "The fast jet trainer programme is ongoing and no final procurement decisions have been made. More broadly, this government is backing British jobs, British industry, and British innovators - since July 2024, we have signed 1,200 major contracts, with 93% of the spend going to UK-based companies."

The BBC has been told the company's main investor Barzan Holdings, the strategic investment and procurement arm of Qatar's Ministry of Defence, withdrew its funding amid the US-Israeli war with Iran. A potential agreement Aeralis was exploring to make jets for the French government also failed to materialise. The company filed for administration on Friday.

In a statement, Joanne Milner from administrators Buchler Phillips, said: "Aeralis has developed a highly differentiated proposition within the aerospace and defence sector. We hope that the administration process will provide an opportunity to explore routes to preserve and develop that value for stakeholders."

Aeralis chairman Robin Southwell said the decision to go into administration had been taken after "careful consideration of the company's position and the funding challenges it has faced over recent months. We will continue to support the joint administrators as they explore viable, sustainable options for the future of the business and engage with interested parties."

In an interview prior to Aeralis going into administration, Southwell told the BBC the delay in the investment plan was making life "very difficult for companies such as ours and others". He urged the UK government to give "clarity and direction" to the MoD to "allow companies like ours to start generating the jobs, opportunities, ambitions and exports that this country clearly needs".

Last year, the UK government's Strategic Defence Review recommended the Hawks should be replaced by a "cost-effective, advanced trainer jet". The review suggests that MoD procurement should prioritise British businesses to benefit the UK economy.

The MoD is considering options to replace the Hawk jets. Aircraft offered by BAE Systems, Leonardo and several other companies are also considered to be contenders to replace the Hawk but no decisions have been made.

The long-awaited investment plan to deliver the review's recommendations has been delayed significantly and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is facing growing pressure to publish it. This week, Sir Keir told MPs the defence investment plan was being "finalised" as he outlined his government's legislative programme in the King's Speech.

Last month Lord Robertson, the former Labour defence secretary who wrote the Strategic Defence Review, accused Sir Keir's government of showing "corrosive complacency" on defence.

Southwell said Aeralis had been talking to the French government about the possibility of building its jet in the country. But Aeralis's preference was to design and manufacture parts of its advanced trainer jet at the company's sites across the UK, before assembling the aircraft at Prestwick International Airport in Ayrshire, Scotland.

The company estimates that its programme could have created 4,000 new jobs in the UK and generate £600m in annual exports. But the aircraft has only been designed digitally at this stage, with the company saying it needed government backing to start production.

Justin Bronk, a senior research fellow at the RUSI think tank, said the Aeralis option was "purely theoretical, and its only attraction is the promise of UK jobs at some point".

"Its downsides include high programme and development risks, and long realistic timeframes until any serviceable aircraft might be delivered, compared to alternatives that already exist," Bronk said.

He added: "A strong fast jet training pipeline is fundamental to all other UK combat air capabilities, so risk should not be taken with ensuring it is modernised rapidly and with high levels of assurance."

Bronk said jet trainers developed by Leonardo, or Boeing/Saab in partnership with BAE Systems, were "low-risk, high-quality" options that "could be delivered from the late 2020s".

BAE Systems is working with US manufacturer Boeing and Sweden's Saab to develop the T-7 jet into a replacement for the Hawk, and has committed to assembling the aircraft in the UK.

"Our joint approach brings together three leading global defence primes at the heart of UK combat air capability, offering the UK a next-generation, cost‑effective, capable and reliable solution," a BAE Systems spokesperson said.

Leonardo, an Italian company with operations in the UK, told the BBC its M-346 jet was "being assessed as an option for a number of emerging requirements".

"We will work with UK industrial partners to provide a compelling, UK low risk solution to the RAF advanced jet training requirement based on our proven and highly successful International Flying Training System," a Leonardo spokesperson said.

Erm ... no.

The middle picture is the right way up - showing how The Red Arrows fly, during their routines.

CfN.

Red Arrows get first woman leader


Wing Cdr Sasha Nash says she hopes "to inspire future generations of aviators" during her time in the role

The Red Arrows will be led by a woman for the first time in its history.

Wing Cdr Sasha Nash, who has taken over from Wing Cdr Adam Collins as the most senior officer in the Royal Air Force aerobatic team, described it as the "opportunity of a lifetime".

Nash said she was "incredibly proud", adding she hoped to "inspire future generations of aviators from all backgrounds".

In 2023, the team faced criticism after an inquiry found predatory behaviour towards women within the team was "widespread and normalised".


The Red Arrows team has performed thousands of displays in more than 50 countries

Nash, a former Tornado pilot who has flown tours in Afghanistan, will command 150 RAF and civilian personnel at the team's headquarters at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire, and have responsibility for overseeing all aspects of the operation.

"This is a career opportunity of a lifetime," she said. "If someone had told me 20 years ago that, one day, I'd be Officer Commanding of the Red Arrows, I don't think I would have believed it."

Talking about her passion for aviation, she said it had all started when she was a child. "I was a six-year-old little girl when I decided to join the Royal Air Force and to fly fast jets – inspired by air shows and seeing the speed and excitement of aircraft displaying at those events. That ambition stayed with me throughout school, where I achieved a sixth form scholarship and subsequent university bursary to join the RAF."


Wing Cdr Sasha Nash has taken over from Wing Cdr Adam Collins

Nash, who has previously worked alongside the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, and played lacrosse for England at junior and senior level, paid tribute to her predecessor. "I've worked alongside Adam over the last couple of years and witnessed, first hand, his utter dedication to both the team and the RAF."

Collins, whose career saw him lead the team during its 60th anniversary season, as well as a five-week tour of Canada, wished his successor well. "I am confident that, under her leadership, the Red Arrows will continue to demonstrate our recipe of precision, excellence and teamwork across the globe," he said.

Speaking in 2024, Collins said the team had moved on from the harassment claims, saying at the time it was his job to "make people feel included, valued and respected".

Across the West? Is it even relevant on a public transport forum for the West & SW?

A Red Arrows pilot has died after an incident at the aerobatic team's base at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire.

The RAF has confirmed that the pilot was ejected while the aircraft was on the ground.

The Military Aviation Authority is intiating a full and independent inquiry to determine the cause of the incident.

The pilot's family have been told and have asked for a period of grace until his name is released.

Lincolnshire Police earlier confirmed they were attending an incident at Scampton, but did not comment further.

East Midlands Ambulance crews were called the scene at about 11:09 GMT, along with the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance.

Eyewitnesses close to RAF Scampton reported seeing one of the Hawk aircraft with a smashed canopy, according to BBC defence correspondent Jonathan Beale.

Aircraft designed for low-level flying - such as the Hawk - have ejection seats which fire through the canopy, he said.

Chris Boatman, who lives nearby, said he heard a "massive bang".

"A few hours ago my children and I heard a massive bang that echoed across from the runway area to our house," he said.

"Not long after that an air ambulance flew a few metres over the house."

The incident comes a few months after Red Arrows pilot Jon Egging died after his plane crashed during a display near Bournemouth Airport.

A post-mortem examination showed the cause of death was multiple injuries.

Flt Lt Egging, who grew up in Southam, Warwickshire, joined the RAF in 2000 and served with IV (AC) Squadron, based at RAF Cottesmore, flying the Harrier GR9 in support of coalition forces in Afghanistan.

The Red Arrows team was formed in 1965 and have completed more than 4,300 displays in 53 countries.

The team completed their final display of the season in September and are currently carrying out their winter training at RAF Scampton.

It is with sadness that the MOD must confirm the death of Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging of the RAF Aerobatics Team (The Red Arrows).

Flt Lt Egging was killed when his Hawk T1 aircraft ^ Red 4 ^ crashed around 1km South East of Bournemouth Airport at 1350 on Sat 20 Aug 2011.

A full Service Inquiry into the crash has been initiated. It would be inappropriate to speculate on the causes of the incident at this time.

A Red Arrow aeroplane has crashed in Dorset following a display at the Bournemouth Air Festival.

The fire service confirmed they were called to an air crash at 13:50 BST near Bournemouth International Airport.

Eyewitnesses described seeing the plane plunge to the ground in a field at Throop village.

It was one of nine Red Arrows that had earlier taken part in a display over the seafront. No details are known about possible casualties.

BBC South Today producer Martin Webster, who was at the scene, said he saw only eight of the nine Red Arrows RAF display team's aircraft land on the runway following the display at the annual event.

Shaun Spencer-Perkins, who witnessed the crash from Throop Mill, said: "I heard a rushing sound and I saw a plane about 15m above the ground racing across the fields. It impacted and bounced across the field, made it across the river. Members of the public jumped into the water to search for the cockpit. We waved down the helicopter, I took off my son's orange jacket and my wife's red jumper to get the attention of the helicopter."

Darren Blakeman, who was watching the display, described what he saw: "We watched nine Red Arrows take off, then they did an approach from the south of the runway, they did a little display. After that display only eight of the airplanes landed and then there was a big siren went off at the airport, like an emergency sound, and there was a big yellow fire truck parked in the viewing area and then that rushed off with its blue lights going. From my scene here I can see a police helicopter and a coastguard helicopter and they're hovering in the air above the site."

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "We can confirm that we are aware of an incident involving one of the Red Arrows and we are investigating."

No ticket sales at Falmouth Docks, which to me is the most sensible station (and around 50 others thought so as well) to depart Falmouth on such occasions.

Seemed to work ok, very over crowded 1930 return though.

Can't really complain wasn't ticketed on either leg, to and from Perranwell.