Published: 1 July 2026
What you need to know
The Red Arrows will receive new jets. The government's Defence Investment Plan confirmed £360 million for a "British Jet Trainer System" to replace the Hawk T1 aircraft that the team has flown since 1979. The Hawk fleet is due to retire around 2030 and has become increasingly difficult to sustain. The Red Arrows already cut most 2026 displays from nine jets to seven to preserve airframe life.
- Budget: £360m for a British Jet Trainer System under the Defence Investment Plan.
- Part of: £15bn increase in total UK military spending announced by PM Keir Starmer.
- Hawk T1 retirement: Due around 2030. The Red Arrows are the type's only remaining operator.
- 2026 displays: Cut from nine to seven jets to extend airframe life.
- New platform: Not yet named. Several candidates including T-7A, M-346 and Hawk successor.
The government's Defence Investment Plan, unveiled by Prime Minister Keir Starmer as part of a £298 billion defence commitment over four years, confirmed that £360 million will fund what it calls a "British Jet Trainer System." The announcement explicitly states: "We will have new jets for the Red Arrows to replace the ageing Hawk aircraft."
The Hawk T1 entered RAF service in the 1970s and the Red Arrows have flown it since 1979. They are now the only remaining operator of the type anywhere in the world. The fleet's age has made it progressively harder to maintain: the RAF has started using seven-aircraft formations for most 2026 displays rather than the famous nine-jet Diamond formation, a visible acknowledgement that airframes are being conserved ahead of retirement.
Why the Hawk replacement matters beyond airshows
The Red Arrows are the public face of the programme but the investment addresses a broader operational requirement. The RAF must also replace the Hawk T2, the more modern version used for advanced fast-jet pilot training at RAF Valley on Anglesey under the UK Military Flying Training System. That fleet of 28 aircraft, which entered service from 2012, has been dogged by engine reliability problems limiting daily availability.
Future RAF pilots must be trained for Eurofighter Typhoon and the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), which demands trainers capable of simulating digital cockpits, advanced sensors and electronic warfare environments the Hawk was never designed for. A modern replacement reduces the transition gap between training and frontline service.
Key facts: Red Arrows and the Hawk
Sources: UK Defence Investment Plan 1 July 2026; UK Defence Journal; RAF Waddington; Hello Lincoln.
