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Typhoon Fighter Sovereign Capability
12 November 2025
Lead MP
Andrew Snowden
Fylde
Con
Responding Minister
Al Carns
Tags
DefenceEmployment
Word Count: 14326
Other Contributors: 18
At a Glance
Andrew Snowden raised concerns about typhoon fighter sovereign capability in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The RAF needs to be fully invested in the development of Typhoon by placing an order as part of the strategic defence review, which would also boost the export campaign. This is essential for maintaining and developing our sovereign capability.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The skilled workforce and cutting-edge technology at the BAE Systems Warton site in Fylde have taken decades to develop, providing jobs for multiple generations of workers. The production line is now running out of work with the final Typhoons rolling off assembly lines, leading to fears about job security and the future of sovereign capability. Although there has been success in securing export orders, like the Turkey deal, they are not enough to sustain long-term viability.
Al Carns
Con
South Ribble
Emphasised the importance of long-term planning for defence capabilities.
Alex Baker
Lab
Aldershot
Congratulates the hon. Member for Fylde and highlights QinetiQ's role in maintaining the Typhoon fleet, emphasizing its importance to national security and prosperity.
Andy MacNae
Lab
Rossendale and Darwen
Welcomed the Turkey deal and highlighted the need to secure a UK Typhoon order to maintain world-leading position and skills. Argues for maintaining sovereign capability through development of Typhoon and highlights orders from other European countries, stressing resilience and independence in defence strategies. Supported the Türkiye deal but questioned mixed fleet requirements.
Ben Obese-Jecty
Lab
Huntingdon
Asked numerous questions regarding the security of the Typhoon programme beyond 2040.
Tewkesbury
Acknowledged the significance of the Typhoon programme for UK aerospace engineering and economic growth, urging the Government to prioritise support for those sustaining platforms. Asked about future plans for UK businesses' access to skilled engineers.
Filton and Bradley Stoke
Commends the contribution of workers at Rolls-Royce in Filton to securing the recent Typhoon deal, highlighting their role in engine production and maintenance.
Graeme Downie
Lab
Dunfermline and Dollar
Supports Alex Baker's point about QinetiQ's work and mentions 800 jobs in Scotland related to Typhoon, highlighting the importance of radar equipment manufacturing.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Expressed personal enthusiasm for fighter jets inspired by second world war stories; emphasised the importance of retaining reputation as top fighting force. Discussed the co-dependence of UK and Irish defence capabilities.
Luke Akehurst
Lab
North Durham
Expressed concern about the pace of defending Britain from air and missile attack, highlighting the importance of Typhoon in early engagement. Asked for a timeline on further upgrades to enhance capability.
Calvin Bailey
Lab
Leyton and Wanstead
Responded to the concerns raised about the allocation of F-35As, suggesting that the OCU instructors could potentially form the backbone of our NATO dual-capable nuclear readiness force.
Campbell
DUP
East Londonderry
Stressed the importance of reminding allies of the centrality of UK defence.
Francois
Con
Points out the dependency on US systems with F-35s and questions their compatibility with British-made missiles like Meteor and Spear 3.
Gregory Campbell
DUP
East Londonderry
He responds with 'Possibly' in agreement with the concerns raised.
Mark Francois
Con
Rayleigh and Wickford
Supports Mr Snowden's argument by highlighting the immediacy of the issue after seeing the penultimate Qatari Typhoon at Warton, emphasizing the urgency of securing future orders for sovereign capability. Congratulates his hon. Friend on securing the debate, highlights the importance of the Typhoon programme for constituents in Warton, discusses potential export deals to Turkey and Qatar, and questions the Minister about future international sales and RAF fleet maintenance.
Paul Foster
Lab
South Ribble
Visited Warton site with Prime Minister; highlighted the economic impact of new Typhoon orders, securing up to £8 billion in investment and critical jobs for at least a decade.
Snowden
Lab
Supports a blended force of Typhoon and F-35, but emphasises the need to develop and adapt the Typhoon platform for future needs.
Secured the debate on defence investment and capability requirements.
Will Stone
Lab
Swindon North
Points out that there is a difference in capacity between an F-35 and a Typhoon, emphasizing that both aircraft are needed for the armed forces to function effectively.
Government Response
Al Carns
The Minister for the Armed Forces
Government Response
Typhoon has been a backbone of the RAF’s combat air capability since its introduction in 2003, successfully supporting a wide range of missions with state-of-the-art technology. It continues to play an important role at home and abroad, fulfilling the RAF's primary role of protecting UK skies through quick reaction alert capability and contributing to NATO operations such as Operation Eastern Sentry and Operation Chessman. Discussed the importance of long-term planning and investment in combat air programmes. Announced a deal with Türkiye worth up to £8 billion, supporting thousands of jobs across the UK. Emphasised the future Combat Air Programme’s role in developing sixth generation combat aircraft for RAF, alongside continued investments in Typhoon and F-35 Lightning.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.