Lincolnshire Red Arrows to get new jets to replace aging Falcons

The Red Arrows will get new jets as a result of a £15bn increase in military spending, the government has announced.

Under the UK’s Defense Investment Plan, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) has committed to investing £360m to develop a new “British jet training system”, which includes “new jets for the Red Arrows to replace the aging Hawk aircraft”.

Last month, the team said it would mostly fly smaller aircraft for demonstrations to extend the life of the Hawk, which began service in the 1980s.

Former Red Arrows pilot Andy White welcomed the announcement, saying it “provides much-needed certainty that the Hawk replacement process is finally moving forward.”

He said: “The aircraft selected must meet the RAF’s operational requirements, but I hope equal weight will be given to supporting British engineering, maintaining highly skilled operations and maintaining sovereign air capability.”

“Carrying the famous red, white and blue smoke for decades, the aircraft must be a symbol of what Britain is capable of designing, building and supporting.”