London, July 9 - The United Kingdom’s aerospace industry faces a critical juncture as the production of Eurofighter Typhoon jets at BAE Systems’ Warton facility in Lancashire has ground to a halt, prompting urgent calls from the Unite union for the government to place new orders for the advanced fighter jets. The cessation of final assembly, driven by a lack of new domestic or export contracts, has raised alarms about the potential loss of skilled jobs, national security implications, and the erosion of the UK’s aerospace manufacturing capabilities. With the last aircraft from a £5 billion contract with Qatar nearing completion, the assembly line at Warton is now effectively idle, with only one jet remaining in the hangar awaiting final parts and painting. This development has sparked intense debate about the UK’s defense priorities and industrial strategy.
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The Eurofighter Typhoon, a fourth-generation multirole fighter developed by a consortium including BAE Systems, Airbus, and Leonardo, has been a cornerstone of the Royal Air Force (RAF) and several air forces worldwide since its introduction in the early 2000s. The Warton facility, operational since 2000, has been a key hub for assembling these aircraft, employing thousands of skilled workers. However, the UK government has not placed a new order for Typhoons since 2009, and recent export contracts with countries like Saudi Arabia and Qatar remain unapproved, leaving the production line without work. As a result, BAE Systems has redeployed hundreds of workers to other company sites or RAF bases, a move that Unite warns could lead to the permanent loss of critical aerospace expertise.
Unite has been vocal in its criticism of the government’s procurement policies, arguing that the failure to order a fourth tranche of Typhoons, particularly the advanced T5 variant, undermines the UK’s defense industrial base. The union emphasizes that continued production is essential not only for preserving jobs but also for maintaining the skills needed for the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), a sixth-generation fighter initiative involving the UK, Italy, and Japan, set to enter service in the mid-2030s. The gap between the end of Typhoon production and the ramp-up of GCAP could disrupt the supply chain and weaken the UK’s ability to develop next-generation aircraft, according to industry experts.
The government’s recent decision to procure 12 US-made F-35A fighters, capable of carrying nuclear payloads, has further fueled the controversy. While the F-35s are partly manufactured at BAE’s Lancashire facilities, Unite argues that prioritizing foreign-built aircraft over domestically produced Typhoons represents a missed opportunity to bolster British industry. The union has called for an urgent commitment to new Typhoon orders to replace the RAF’s aging fleet, warning that failure to act could have long-term consequences for national security and economic growth. BAE Systems, while acknowledging the production pause, remains optimistic about potential future orders, noting ongoing negotiations with countries like Türkiye for 40 Typhoon jets. The situation underscores a broader challenge for the UK’s defense sector: balancing immediate operational needs with long-term industrial and economic priorities. With approximately 12,000 workers employed across BAE’s Warton and Samlesbury sites, the stakes are high. The government’s upcoming Defence Investment Plan, expected later this year, may provide clarity on the future of Typhoon production and the UK’s commitment to its aerospace industry. For now, the idle assembly line at Warton serves as a stark reminder of the delicate interplay between defense policy, industrial capability, and workforce stability.