UK Inquiry Tracker

Future Aviation Capabilities

Defence Committee Closed Inquiry

Opened: 10 Sep 2023 Closed: 3 Sep 2025 Parliament page

This inquiry was originally conducted during the 2019 Parliament and was interrupted by the 2024 general election. In November 2024 the re-established committee agreed to complete the inquiry. Following the conclusion of its first inquiry into aviation procurement, the Committee is now launching a new follow-on inquiry which will focus … Read more This inquiry was originally conducted during the 2019 Parliament and was interrupted by the 2024 general election. In November 2024 the re-established committee agreed to complete the inquiry. Following the conclusion of its first inquiry into aviation procurement, the Committee is now launching a new follow-on inquiry which will focus on future aviation capabilities. The Committee welcomes written evidence on any or all of the topics below, to be submitted by Monday 23 October: Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) : What will be the key challenges in delivering GCAP’s aim to deliver a 6th generation combat aircraft by 2035, and what should the MoD be doing now to address them? What lessons can be learnt from previous large multilateral defence programmes such as Typhoon? How can the MoD ensure that GCAP attracts and retains political and public support over the next decade? With full-scale production of the new aircraft not expected to be underway until the 2030s, how can the MoD and industry ensure that an appropriately skilled workforce is retained in the interim? Rotary wing What are the reasons for, and the implications of, delays to the New Medium Lift helicopter procurement? Is planned investment across the rotary wing fleet appropriately balanced to deliver the capabilities required? Advanced jet trainer With the Hawk T2 expected to leave service in 2040, and synthetic training becoming increasingly prevalent, how should the MoD approach the procurement of its next advanced jet trainer? Munitions What is your assessment of the MoD’s vision, strategy and planning of future airborne weapons systems across the combat fleet? Is the air mobility fleet suitably equipped for the transport of such weapons? Defence industrial strategy How can the MoD ensure that these procurements best contribute to a sustainable and thriving defence industrial base, by building and maintaining appropriately skilled, effective and active defence manufacturing teams? How should exportability be built into these programmes from the outset, and what should the MoD, and the Government more broadly, be doing to maximise their export potential? Show less

2 Recommendations

13 Conclusions

1 Report

3 Oral sessions

2 Letters

3 Events

Activity timeline 10 events

27 Mar
2025

Correspondence

Letter dated 27th March to Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry following up on the A400M update, with original letter

21 Mar
2025

Report published

2nd Special Report - The Global Combat Air Programme: Government Response

14 Jan
2025

Report published

3rd report - The Global Combat Air Programme

14 May
2024

Correspondence

Letter dated 25 April from Chair to Boeing relating to E-7 Wedgetail.

21 Feb
2024

Oral evidence

Panel 1

21 Feb
2024

Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 8, Palace of Westminster

Oral Evidence Session

24 Jan
2024

Oral evidence

Panel 1; Panel 2; Panel 3

24 Jan
2024

Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 8, Palace of Westminster

Committee event

9 Jan
2024

Oral evidence

Panel 1; Panel 2

9 Jan
2024

Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 5, Palace of Westminster

Oral Evidence Session

Oral evidence sessions 3 sessions

21 Feb 2024

View on parliament.uk

Panel 1

Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton KCB · Ministry of Defence James Cartlidge MP · Ministry of Defence Lieutenant General Rob Magowan CB CBE · Ministry of Defence Richard Berthon OBE · Ministry of Defence

24 Jan 2024

View on parliament.uk

Panel 1; Panel 2; Panel 3

Herman Claesen · BAE Systems Ian Waddell · The Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions (CSEU) Mr Rhys McCarthy · Unite the Union Nick Laird CBE · Spirit AeroSystems Simon Barnes · BAE Systems Tristan Crawford · AERALIS

9 Jan 2024

View on parliament.uk

Panel 1; Panel 2

Brian Phillipson · Eurofighter GmbH Lucia Retter · RAND Europe Professor Trevor Taylor · RUSI Tim Rowntree · OCCAR

Reports 1 report · click to expand

Title	HC No.	Published	Items	Response
3rd report - The Global Combat Air Programme	HC 598	14 Jan 2025	15	Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

3 results

9 Conclusion Acknowledged

3rd report - The Global Combat Air…

Support and encourage Japan's legislative progress to enable successful GCAP fighter exports.

The Committee was greatly encouraged by Japan’s recognition of the importance of exports to their GCAP partners. Nonetheless, Japan’s inexperience as a defence exporter is likely to present unique challenges for GCAP which were not in evidence for Typhoon. The … Read more

Government Response

The government acknowledges the importance of exportability, states future exports are recognized in the GCAP treaty, and expresses confidence that partners are implementing necessary policy measures to achieve export goals.

Ministry of Defence

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12 Conclusion Acknowledged

3rd report - The Global Combat Air…

Failure to capitalise on Hawk success led to loss of UK manufacturing capacity.

The Hawk trainer aircraft has been a UK defence export success story, but with domestic production lines closing four years ago the skills and manufacturing capacity which had built up over decades will prove challenging and costly to regenerate. We … Read more

Government Response

The government acknowledges that further investment is needed for the Hawk T2 to meet its 2040 out-of-service date and is currently assessing alternative options for the program.

Ministry of Defence

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15 Conclusion Acknowledged

3rd report - The Global Combat Air…

GCAP must break the mould of previous multilateral defence programme failures.

Whilst progress to date has been positive, previous multilateral defence programmes have frequently seen costs spiral and delays pile up and GCAP will have to break the mould if it is to achieve its ambitious target date. Decisions made at … Read more

Government Response

The government expresses gratitude for the report and affirms GCAP has been designed to learn lessons from previous programs, acknowledging the importance of the program and commitment to working with partners and Parliament.

Ministry of Defence

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Government Response AI assessment · 15 of 2 classified

Accepted 12

Acknowledged 3

Total 2 recs + 13 conclusions

Correspondence 2 letters

27 Mar 2025 Letter dated 27th March to Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry following up on the A400M update, with original letter

Parliament page

14 May 2024 Letter dated 25 April from Chair to Boeing relating to E-7 Wedgetail.

Parliament page