Red Arrows: A National Symbol in Jeopardy?

The recent news that Bristol-based start-up company and Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) designer Aeralis has gone into administration is extremely disappointing, but sadly unsurprising. Over the past four years, MS&T’s Dim Jones has followed the progress of their bid to provide the Royal Air Force with a suite of trainer and light attack aircraft, based on an innovative modular concept, originally following a visit to their headquarters, and more recently in the context of the announcement by the Government of its intention to replace both the Hawk T2 fast-jet trainer and the Hawk T1s of the  RAF Aerobatic Team (RAFAT), the Red Arrows.

Regrettably, expression of intent is as far as the Government has got; indeed, the selection process has not even been determined. In the case of T2, time is not of the essence: the airframe has plenty of life left, and its early replacement is the result of underachievement. Not so the T1, which faces an out-of-service date of 2030. Indeed,  recent media reports that due to the age of their engines the Red Arrows will now fly most displays with only seven aircraft, instead of the regular nine, suggests that even this was optimistic. 2030 would have been ample time to select (although maybe not to acquire) a replacement already in service elsewhere, but not to develop and test a new concept.

Furthermore, a modern AJT requires an advanced avionic suite, including synthetic radar and emulators to represent functions such as electronic warfare and, in the fullness of time, synthesized imaging in a live visual environment, such as provided by Red 6’s Advanced Tactical Augmented Reality System (ATARS). A formation aerobatic aircraft does not need any of these things. Whereas the Aeralis solution provided for both basic and advanced variants, purchase of an off-the-shelf foreign aircraft would entail either acceptance of over-sophistication (and expense), or bespoke modification, which might not work out any cheaper.   

Aeralis’ problem is funding. This is partly the result of recent geopolitical issues in the Middle East. In reality, the project has also suffered slow strangulation due to sclerotic decision-making and procurement processes in the Ministry of Defence, and its apparently dysfunctional relationship with the Treasury, as evidenced by the continued delays in publishing the Defence Investment Plan (DIP).  The French were looking at replacing the AlphaJets of the Patrouille de France, but have no indigenous trainer aircraft. They had expressed strong interest in the Aeralis jet, but needed the UK to come on board to make the numbers work.

More fundamentally, there appears to be a lack of ambition and national identity in the UK defence industry. The ‘B’ in ‘BAE Systems’ once stood for a Britain that designed and built its own military aircraft, including the Hawk that has equipped the Red Arrows for more than four decades. An imported aircraft would  almost certainly be built in the UK under licence, thereby supporting British jobs. Although the RAF training system might be well-served by this, it is nevertheless a sad reflection on this and previous governments (this can has bootprints of both colours on it), that one of Britain’s most visible national symbols of pride, precision, and aviation excellence may now have to fly in a foreign-designed aircraft.

The Red Arrows exist partly to showcase British industry. Some might even argue that, if the team can no longer fly a British-designed aircraft, this presents the ideal opportunity to disband it altogether, which really would signal the depths to which the standing of the UK armed forces has descended.