The British Royal Air Force has retired its Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft configured to the Tranche 1 standard amid discussions regarding the incorporation of a larger number of stealth F-35 fighters, leaving only a squadron of four aircraft deployed as a quick reaction force in the Malvinas Islands. This process began gradually in 2015 when the United Kingdom confirmed its intentions to phase out its fleet of 53 Typhoons of this variant, with the process officially concluding yesterday.
Expanding on some relevant details regarding the fate of this fleet, the United Kingdom has expressed its intention to maintain the aforementioned deployment of Tranche 1 Eurofighter Typhoons until 2027, while two units will be available for potential foreign sale. Additionally, ten aircraft are set to be cannibalized for spare parts to support the operational readiness of the more modern variants of the aircraft (Tranche 2 and 3) that will remain in service, while 29 units will be scrapped (12 of them are currently awaiting disposal in RAF storage facilities).
Several issues arise from this scenario, with the most notable being the decision not to proceed with modernization or the purchase of these fighters in more advanced variants, nor to transfer them to Ukraine. In the first case, the course set by the United Kingdom is closely related to its determination to continue acquiring U.S.-made F-35 fighters, which require significant funding and make investment in the Eurofighter program unfeasible. As reported by the British newspaper The Times after consulting ministerial sources, the fifth-generation fighter is considered superior due to its stealth capabilities, with sources stating, “the Typhoon is not the future,” while also dismissing suspicions about an alleged “kill switch” installed in the U.S. platform.
This issue is particularly significant, as in recent months British labor unions have pushed for a new purchase of Tranche 5 Eurofighters to support local production infrastructure, which accounts for 26,000 jobs at BAE Systems, Rolls Royce, Leonardo, and other companies involved in the program. For now, although in smaller numbers than previously mentioned, these capabilities are expected to remain active to fulfill the acquisition agreements for these fighters pursued by Turkey and Saudi Arabia.
Finally, regarding the second point raised, it is worth noting that despite various speculations about a potential transfer of these older units to the Ukrainian Air Force, the outlined plan seems to close that window entirely, much to Kyiv’s disappointment. Previously, British officials had disclosed this reality in response to parliamentary inquiries, while also confirming the continued support for Ukrainian pilots through English language training and basic flight instruction as they work toward certification on the F-16 platform.
Images used for illustrative purposes
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