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Inside The UK’s Integrated Defense Review

Tony Osborne March 24, 2021
F-35 Joint Strike Fighter
Credit: Jen DiMascio/AW&ST

The UK will purchase “beyond 48” F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, but this will be over the lifetime of the Queen Elizabeth-class carriers to the 2060s.

Boeing E-7 Wedgetail
Credit: SAC Andy Stevens/Royal Air Force

The planned Boeing E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning fleet purchase will shrink from five to three, with first deliveries in 2023, while the Boeing E-3 Sentry will exit service by year-end, leaving a two-year capability gap.

Tranche 1 Eurofighter Typhoon
Credit: UK Royal Air Force
Typhoon
RAF C-130J Hercules
Credit: Tony Osborne/AW&ST

The remainder of the RAF’s C-130J Hercules fleet—14 aircraft—will be retired by the end of 2023, leaving the tactical airlift mission to the Airbus A400M fleet. Upgrades for the C-130J, including installation of a new wingbox, have been halted.

Boeing CH-47 Chinook
Credit: Tony Osborne/AW&ST
CH-47
Thales Watchkeeper unmanned aircraft system
Credit: British Army

The British Army’s troubled Thales Watchkeeper unmanned aircraft system, the subject of numerous accidents, will be upgraded.

Royal Air Force Puma helicopter
Credit: Cpl. Connor Payne/Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force Puma helicopter
British Aerospace 146
Credit: Tony Osborne/AW&ST

Four British Aerospace 146s used for transport and VIP missions will be retired in 2023. Their role looks set to be partly taken up by two Airbus A321neo airliners wet-leased from UK airline Titan Airways.

UK nuclear submarine
Credit: Royal Navy

The UK will expand its nuclear weapons stockpile ceiling to 260 from 180 as it continues to modernize the submarine-launched nuclear deterrent.

Here is a look at the aerospace proposals in the Integrated Review. 

For more, see UK Defense Is Facing Pain Before Technological Gain

Tony Osborne

Based in London, Tony covers European defense programs. Prior to joining Aviation Week in November 2012, Tony was at Shephard Media Group where he was deputy editor for Rotorhub and Defence Helicopter magazines.