Labour Faces National Security Warning as Typhoon Jet Production Halts

Production of the Eurofighter Typhoon has ground to a halt at BAE Systems’ Warton site in Lancashire, prompting warnings from unions about the potential loss of critical defence capabilities and national security risks. The halt comes as the final jet for Qatar nears completion, with no follow-on orders currently in place.

The Warton factory, a cornerstone of the UK’s aerospace industry for decades, now houses only one remaining Typhoon aircraft awaiting final components and painting. This marks the winding down of assembly work tied to a £5 billion order placed by Qatar in 2017. Union leaders and defence experts are raising alarms about the implications of this pause in production.

A union representative described the situation plainly: “There is one jet in the hangar, but it is waiting for a few parts and to be painted. As far as major assembly goes, it’s finished.” She emphasised that the halt is leaving workers without sustainable work and warned it contradicts the government’s commitments to boost domestic defence manufacturing and protect high-skilled jobs.

Sharon Graham, General Secretary of Unite, reinforced these concerns, questioning how a government that claims to prioritise “British growth, British jobs, British skills, British innovation” could allow such a strategic capability to lapse. She added that the cessation of fighter jet assembly risks not only employment and industry skills but also national defence autonomy.

The UK government has not placed a new order for Typhoons since 2009. Instead, its focus has shifted toward acquiring American-made F-35A aircraft, with 27 expected to begin arriving by the end of the decade. This includes 12 F-35As, which are capable of carrying tactical nuclear weapons and are more cost-effective.

Defence Secretary John Healey recently reaffirmed this procurement strategy before the Defence Select Committee. However, critics argue that the lack of investment in domestic aircraft production could leave the UK exposed and dependent on foreign supply chains.

Conservative MP Andrew Snowden warned that without a timely commitment to new Typhoon orders, the UK risks losing its ability to independently design, assemble, and deliver cutting-edge military aircraft, a capability viewed as vital to national sovereignty.

Tim Robinson, editor of Aerospace magazine, called the halt a “temporary blip” in the UK’s combat aircraft assembly pipeline, anticipating future orders or the transition to the next-generation Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP). However, he cautioned that any prolonged gap could erode the workforce’s specialist skills and experience.

While discussions continue with potential buyers, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey, the future of Typhoon production, and the jobs and strategic advantages it supports, remains uncertain.

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