Latest news with #warplane
The Independent
11-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
RAF's most advanced jet a ‘disappointing return' on £11 billion cost, NAO says
The £71 billion programme for Britain's most advanced warplane has been hit by delays, shortages of equipment and a lack of pilots and engineers, the public spending watchdog said. The F-35 Lightning stealth jet used by the RAF and on the Royal Navy's carriers is 'significantly superior' to all previous UK aircraft, the National Audit Office said. But the capability achieved from the £11 billion spent so far on the project is a 'disappointing return' compared with the original plans set by the Ministry of Defence (MoD). The F-35 is a largely US project, although around 15% by value of each aircraft is manufactured in the UK, generating around £22 billion in contracts for British firms. The report said that 'due to failings of both the MoD and the global programme, the level of overall UK F-35 capability is currently lower than the MoD intended it would be by now at the time of its 2013 business case, and will be for several years'. The NAO said: 'In our view, the capability achieved for the estimated £11 billion spent to date is a disappointing return so far compared with MoD plans, even if other programme benefits have been significant'. As of June 2025, the UK had 37 F-35B aircraft in service out of an eventual planned total of 138, with the jets expected to remain in service until 2069 at a £71 billion whole-life cost, according to NAO estimates. But in 2024, the NAO said the 'mission capable rate' – the ability of an aircraft to perform at least one of its seven possible required missions – was approximately half the MoD's target. The 'full mission capable rate' – an aircraft's ability to carry out all its required missions – was only around a third of the target. The NAO said it was not disclosing the actual figures on national security grounds. The MoD has not been able to sustainably deliver its targets for aircraft availability, resulting in flying hours below the requirement for pilots. 'The MoD's short-term affordability decisions and serious global programme delays have hindered the delivery of aircraft and other supporting capability', the report said. There are 'major personnel shortages' across the F-35 force and 'serious gaps' in engineering roles. The report said delivery of the first phase of 48 aircraft, due by the end of April 2026, was behind schedule partly for financial reasons and partly because of global programme delays. The UK operates the F-35B variant of the jet which can fly from the two Royal Navy aircraft carriers, but it has set out plans to order 12 F-35As which can carry nuclear weapons but cannot operate from the warships. An MoD spokesman said: 'The National Audit Office's report rightly recognises the world-class capabilities of the F-35 fighter jet, as well as its significant economic benefits – including £22 billion of work for UK companies, creating thousands of jobs. 'The programme continues to operate within its approved budget and the UK will have two full squadrons of F-35 fighter jets ready for deployment by the end of this year. 'We also recently announced we will purchase 12 F-35As, supporting 20,000 jobs in the UK, and join Nato's dual capable aircraft nuclear mission.'
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
RAF's most advanced jet a ‘disappointing return' on £11 billion cost, NAO says
The £71 billion programme for Britain's most advanced warplane has been hit by delays, shortages of equipment and a lack of pilots and engineers, the public spending watchdog said. The F-35 Lightning stealth jet used by the RAF and on the Royal Navy's carriers is 'significantly superior' to all previous UK aircraft, the National Audit Office said. But the capability achieved from the £11 billion spent so far on the project is a 'disappointing return' compared with the original plans set by the Ministry of Defence (MoD). The F-35 is a largely US project, although around 15% by value of each aircraft is manufactured in the UK, generating around £22 billion in contracts for British firms. The report said that 'due to failings of both the MoD and the global programme, the level of overall UK F-35 capability is currently lower than the MoD intended it would be by now at the time of its 2013 business case, and will be for several years'. The NAO said: 'In our view, the capability achieved for the estimated £11 billion spent to date is a disappointing return so far compared with MoD plans, even if other programme benefits have been significant'. As of June 2025, the UK had 37 F-35B aircraft in service out of an eventual planned total of 138, with the jets expected to remain in service until 2069 at a £71 billion whole-life cost, according to NAO estimates. But in 2024, the NAO said the 'mission capable rate' – the ability of an aircraft to perform at least one of its seven possible required missions – was approximately half the MoD's target. The 'full mission capable rate' – an aircraft's ability to carry out all its required missions – was only around a third of the target. The NAO said it was not disclosing the actual figures on national security grounds. The MoD has not been able to sustainably deliver its targets for aircraft availability, resulting in flying hours below the requirement for pilots. 'The MoD's short-term affordability decisions and serious global programme delays have hindered the delivery of aircraft and other supporting capability', the report said. There are 'major personnel shortages' across the F-35 force and 'serious gaps' in engineering roles. The report said delivery of the first phase of 48 aircraft, due by the end of April 2026, was behind schedule partly for financial reasons and partly because of global programme delays. The UK operates the F-35B variant of the jet which can fly from the two Royal Navy aircraft carriers, but it has set out plans to order 12 F-35As which can carry nuclear weapons but cannot operate from the warships. An MoD spokesman said: 'The National Audit Office's report rightly recognises the world-class capabilities of the F-35 fighter jet, as well as its significant economic benefits – including £22 billion of work for UK companies, creating thousands of jobs. 'The programme continues to operate within its approved budget and the UK will have two full squadrons of F-35 fighter jets ready for deployment by the end of this year. 'We also recently announced we will purchase 12 F-35As, supporting 20,000 jobs in the UK, and join Nato's dual capable aircraft nuclear mission.'
Daily Mail
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Putin warplane crashes after wing falls off during bombing raid
Dramatic footage has caught the extraordinary moment the wing of a £15million Russian warplane fell off in the middle of a Ukraine attack mission. The attack jet crashed after flying in a pair over Ukraine's Donetsk region, with the pilot miraculously cheating death by ejecting before his aircraft fell to the ground. The doomed Su-25 warplane is seen on the video turning and falling out of the sky, crashing into a field. At first it appeared it had been shot down, with Ukrainian media claiming it had possibly been the victim of 'friendly fire' by an unguided missile from its partner plane. The footage shows heat trap flares and possible missiles from the Su-25s. Yet experts on both sides now believe downing near Soledar had a different cause, related to Vladimir Putin 's use of war planes that are 40 years old - or even more antiquated. While there are flames and white smoke as it gets into trouble, there is no explosion, which would be expected if there was a direct missile hit. The right wing is seen falling from the stricken aircraft - and the pilot's parachute is visible after ejecting. The pilot was reportedly rescued by Russian ground forces while under fire from Ukrainian drones. An Mi-8 helicopter then arrived at the crash site and evacuated him. 'The pilot is in the hospital with a broken arm,' reported a Russian Telegram channel. 'A commission will investigate what went wrong and determine who is to blame.' The same source says that 'destruction of the wing' was the cause. Officially, Ukraine has not claimed to have shot down the plane, nor taunted Russia over another friendly fire incident. The visible 'missiles' may be unignited heat trap flares designed to distract heat-seeking missiles away from the aircraft's engines, according to some sources. Ukraine's Military media outlet ruled out both friendly fire and an exploding missile on the distressed aircraft. 'The third possible reason is a defect in the aircraft's power structure that arose due to prolonged intensive use of the aircraft in combat operations or a manufacturing defect,' said the channel. 'This hypothesis is supported by the fact that the wing broke off at the moment of the turn, when it is subjected to the greatest loads.
Daily Mail
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Dramatic moment wing falls off ageing £15m Putin warplane in middle of Ukraine attack mission - as amazingly pilot survives
Dramatic footage has caught the extraordinary moment the wing of a £15million Russian warplane fell off in the middle of a Ukraine attack mission. The attack jet crashed after flying in a pair over Ukraine's Donetsk region, with the pilot miraculously cheating death by ejecting before his aircraft fell to the ground. The doomed Su-25 warplane is seen on the video turning and falling out of the sky, crashing into a field. At first it appeared it had been shot down, with Ukrainian media claiming it had possibly been the victim of 'friendly fire' by an unguided missile from its partner plane. The footage shows heat trap flares and possible missiles from the Su-25s. Yet experts on both sides now believe downing near Soledar had a different cause, related to Vladimir Putin 's use of war planes that are 40 year old - or even more antiquated. While there are flames and white smoke as it gets into trouble, there is no explosion, which would be expected if there was a direct missile hit. The right wing is seen falling from the stricken aircraft - and the pilot's parachute is visible after ejecting. The pilot was reportedly rescued by Russian ground forces while under fire from Ukrainian drones. An Mi-8 helicopter then arrived at the crash site and evacuated him. 'The pilot is in the hospital with a broken arm,' reported a Russian Telegram channel. 'A commission will investigate what went wrong and determine who is to blame.' The same source says that 'destruction of the wing' was the cause. Officially, Ukraine has not claimed to have shot down the plane, nor taunted Russia over another friendly fire incident. The visible 'missiles' may be unignited heat trap flares designed to distract heat-seeking missiles away from the aircraft's engines, according to some sources. Ukraine's Militarny media outlet ruled out both friendly fire and an exploding missile on the distressed aircraft. 'The third possible reason is a defect in the aircraft's power structure that arose due to prolonged intensive use of the aircraft in combat operations or a manufacturing defect,' said the channel. 'This hypothesis is supported by the fact that the wing broke off at the moment of the turn, when it is subjected to the greatest loads. 'Another indirect confirmation may be that the operation of Russian attack aircraft, whose average age reaches 40 years, is associated with a significant number of emergency situations.' The theory was backed by Ukrainian war analyst Yury Butusov, who said: 'At first it seems that it was shot down by its own pilot, the pilot of another aircraft. 'However, when viewed in slow motion, one can conclude that the Su-25's wing failed due to excessive overload and exhaustion of the attack aircraft's resources.' The Su-25 is a Soviet-designed close-air support aircraft developed by Sukhoi in the late 1970s.
The Sun
14-06-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Watch moment Russian fighter jet crashes after WING fell off during air raid mission on Ukraine
THIS is the dramatic moment a wing falls off a £15 million Russian warplane during a frontline mission over Ukraine's Donetsk region. The pilot miraculously cheated death by ejecting before the Su-25 aircraft came tumbling to the ground. 3 In the shocking video, the doomed warplane is seen spinning as it falls out of the sky above the Ukrainian city of Soledar. The Russian aircraft's right wing is seen detached from the warplane, which bursts into flames and crashes into a field. A fighter pilot is also visible, held up by a parachute. It was initially assumed the Su-25 had been shot down. Ukrainian media claimed the aircraft may have been downed by 'friendly fire' - an unguided missile from its partner plane. Others suggested the cause may have been heat trap flares and possible missiles from the Su-25. But given that there appears to be no giant explosion, which would be expected in the instance of a direct missile hit, experts on both sides now have a different theory. Russia's Su-25 fleet is outdated - averaging over 40 years old - and have experienced multiple technical failures in the past, as reported by the Kyiv Post. The pilot was reportedly rescued by Russian forces on the ground while under fire from Ukrainian drones. An Mi-8 helicopter arrived at the crash site and evacuated him. Night of hell for Ukraine as Putin launches 315 drones in one of biggest strikes of war sparking huge inferno in Kyiv Russian Telegram channel Fighterbomber cited 'destruction of the wing' as the cause of the crash. "The pilot is in the hospital with a broken arm," the channel wrote. It added: 'A commission will investigate what went wrong and determine who is to blame.' Ukraine has not released an official statement about this incident. The visible 'missiles' may be unignited heat trap flares designed to distract heat-seeking missiles away from the aircraft's engines, according to some sources. Ukraine's Militarniy media outlet ruled out the possibilities of friendly fire and an exploding missile. The channel said: 'The third possible reason is a defect in the aircraft's power structure that arose due to prolonged intensive use of the aircraft in combat operations or a manufacturing defect. 'This hypothesis is supported by the fact that the wing broke off at the moment of the turn, when it is subjected to the greatest loads. 'Another indirect confirmation may be that the operation of Russian attack aircraft, whose average age reaches 40 years, is associated with a significant number of emergency situations.' Ukrainian war analyst Yury Butusov backed this theory, saying: 'At first it seems that it was shot down by its own pilot, the pilot of another aircraft. 'However, when viewed in slow motion, one can conclude that the Su-25's wing failed due to excessive overload and exhaustion of the attack aircraft's resources.' The Su-25 is a Soviet, twin-engine, single-seat aircraft developed by Sukhoi in the late 1970s.
