Aviation News July 3, 2025 – The UK Ministry of Defence has officially confirmed that a competitive procurement process will be launched to identify a replacement for the Hawk T1 and T2 advanced jet trainers, marking a significant step in modernising the Royal Air Force’s training fleet.
Defence Minister Maria Eagle announced the decision in Parliament, aligning with the release of the UK Strategic Defence Review in early June. The review recommended the acquisition of a more cost-effective fast jet training platform, and the Minister’s recent statement serves as the first formal indication that the programme is now progressing.
The announcement coincided with Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to RAF Valley, where Hawk T2 aircraft are currently based and used to train future RAF fast jet pilots.
“The Strategic Defence Review advised the replacement of the Hawk T1 and T2 aircraft with an advanced, cost-efficient jet trainer,” Eagle told Parliament. “Simultaneously, the future platform for the RAF’s Red Arrows aerobatic display team is under consideration. A dedicated RAF programme team is being assembled to deliver this new training capability.”
While a firm schedule for the competition has yet to be released, insiders suggest that the timeline is still being defined within the RAF and the broader defence procurement process.
The Hawk T2, currently the backbone of UK fast jet training, had previously been expected to remain in service until 2040. However, evolving operational needs and the ageing nature of the platform have prompted this reassessment, with future capability and cost-effectiveness now driving the replacement agenda.
Photo Rob Vogelaar
