RAF to receive upgrades across entire Typhoon fleet in £5.4 billion programme
The latest UK Defence Investment Plan will see the RAF upgrade all of its 107 Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets instead of the 40 previously planned in January 2026.
AGN has previously reported the UK has retired 26 of its Tranche 1 Typhoons, leaving it with a fleet of Tranche 2 and Tranche 3 fighters as well as four remaining Tranche 1s based at Mount Pleasant in the Falkland Islands.
UK to upgrade all 107 of its Typhoons, up from 40 previously planned
The UK Defence Journal quoted the Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard, as saying, “The £5.4 billion Typhoon spend detailed in the DIP comprises the planned spend to maintain and upgrade the UK’s 107 Typhoons.”
He went on to explain, “It includes radar, communications, and software upgrades, new defensive aids systems, and improvements to weapons systems such as the upgraded helmet-mounted sight.”
The comments were in answer to a question by Conservative MP Andrew Snowden, whose constituency includes Warton, where BAE Systems builds the Typhoon fighter jet. He asked for a breakdown on the increased £5.4 billion figure slated for the Typhoons in the Defence Investment Plan.
The January Government plan had stated, “The investment will deliver an additional 40 advanced European Common Radar System (ECRS) Mk2 radars for RAF Typhoons, including 38 new systems and modifications to two test systems, ensuring radars will be fitted to 40 aircraft.”
Defence Investment Plan spending in air domain
These funds are to be spread out over the four years from FY 2026/2027 to FY 2029/2030. The Typhoon fleet is receiving a further £1.1 billion to upgrade and sustain the fleet into the 2040s, including through the Long Term Evolution programme. The Typhoon fleet is to continue to be the core of the combat air capability into the 2040s.
It also includes £300 million in investment for Collaborative Combat Aircraft (aka loyal wingman drones), £8.6 billion for the GCAP/Tempest 6th-generation fighter jet programme, and £2.2 billion for the F-35 fighter jet.
It also has half a billion for the E-7 Wedgetail, almost two billion for the A400M Atlas airlifter, £2.4 billion for the Airbus A330 MRTT Voyager tanker fleet, and billions of pounds for the Hawk trainers, P-8 Poseidon, and other RAF aircraft and systems.
The Royal Air Force and Royal Navy are gearing up to place the next order for another batch of F-35 fighter jets. This will be a mixed batch of STOVL F-35Bs shared between the RAF and RN and conventional F-35As for the RAF.
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Keeping Typhoons cutting edge until Tempest
The UK is working to balance keeping its Typhoons relevant into the 2040s, by which time the next-generation Tempest is expected to start entering service and replacing the fighter jet.
Unlike Spain, Germany, and Italy, the UK has not placed any new orders for the Typhoon and instead appears interested in sustaining its fleet.
The UK has managed to secure export orders (e.g. from Turkey) that will keep its production line humming and its specialized workforce employed until Tempest enters production. Around a third of the Eurofighter Typhoon’s systems are built in the UK.
“We will create a Next Generation Royal Air Force, which will comprise an evolving mix of 4th, 5th and 6th generation crewed and uncrewed air systems, armed with the optimum mix of mass and exquisite weapons.”
The UK is planning to have a concept CCA demonstrator flying by at least 2030, with plans to accelerate the programme as soon as possible. These are to be deployed from both land bases and from its aircraft carrier.
Featured Image: MOD Crown Copyright/Sgt Paul Oldfield
