UK advances three major military aircraft projects

2024-07-22

In early July, after a landslide victory in parliamentary elections, the British Labour Party officially formed a government. According to British media reports, the newly appointed British Prime Minister Keir Stammer and Defense Secretary John Healy are brewing a new defense strategy that will drive reforms in the aerospace, defense, and security sectors. According to reports, the new UK government will reassess national security threats, be ready to participate in NATO related actions at any time, and promise to increase defense spending to 2.5% of GDP. In the future, the UK Strategic Defense Assessment report will prioritize how to enhance the country's military capabilities. To this end, the UK will continue to advance three major military aircraft projects, namely the Future Fighter, Medium Military Helicopter, and A400M Transport Aircraft project. Recently, British Foreign Secretary Lamy stated that the UK will work closely with Italy and Japan to accelerate the Global Air Operations Plan (GCAP). The three countries aim to develop the next generation of fighter jets by 2035 and establish their initial combat capabilities. The new fighter jet will replace old aircraft such as the Air Force's current Typhoon fighter jet, maintaining the UK's military capabilities and technological advantages, while further strengthening internal connections between NATO and the G7. According to a report on the UK defense market released by Global Data, the UK has allocated over £ 2 billion (approximately $2.6 billion) for the GCAP project, primarily for electronic and system integration. BAE Systems is the general contractor for the project in the UK, while Rolls Royce is developing new fighter jet engines. Leonardo da Vinci UK is a manufacturer of fighter jet electronic systems, while the European Missile Group UK focuses on weapon system research and development. The new UK government will also finalize the bidding for a new medium military helicopter project to provide strong support for future operations. Recently, the UK Ministry of Defence released a tender for the project, with bidders including Airbus from Europe, Leonardo from Italy, and Lockheed Martin from the United States. According to the report, three companies will provide H175M helicopters, AW149 multi-purpose helicopters, and "Black Hawk" helicopters, each with its own characteristics, which can be assembled and produced in the UK in the future. Analysts point out that this project will determine the helicopter models that the British military will equip in the next 10 to 15 years, and will greatly affect the transformation and development of the British military. According to reports, after all 22 A400M transport planes are put into use, the British Air Force will continue to expand their functional range. Recently, the British Air Force is conducting tests such as low altitude parachuting and heavy cargo airdrops. In the next five years, the British Air Force may invest heavily in modernizing the fleet. The UK Defense Market Report indicates that, given the growing operational demands of the British Air Force, the size of the A400M transport aircraft fleet will further expand. This type of aircraft has a larger carrying capacity than the C130J transport aircraft and is capable of taking off and landing in harsh environments at field airports. After modification, it can also perform aerial refueling and medical rescue missions. The new UK government has pledged to increase defense spending to 2.5% of GDP and strongly support three major military aircraft projects, reflecting its emphasis on advancing military modernization. However, in the field of weapons manufacturing in the UK, the advancement of a new project often requires achieving financial balance by cutting other projects. In the future, the promotion of the three major military aircraft projects in the UK will inevitably squeeze the funding for army armored vehicles, navy ships and other projects, and the military budget may be stretched thin. (New Society)

Edit:Xiong Dafei    Responsible editor:Li Xiang

Source:People.cn

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