No threat to future of Red Arrows

Defence Secretary John Healey said there was no threat to the future of the RAF’s world-famous aerobatics team when he visited its base on Friday.

Mr Healey was at RAF Waddington with Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves and was speaking in the hangar used by the Red Arrows.

“It's a proud British institution, it trains some of the best pilots in the world and sets standards for other air forces. 

"There is no threat to the Red Arrows, we want them to fly for the future and continue to set new standards."

The future of the team was thought to be under threat after Maria Eagle, the Minister for Defence Procurement, said its Hawk T1 aircraft would be scrapped in March 2030. It is through the forerunner to replace the Hawks is the Aeralis Phoenix light jet – also known as the Lego plane as its versatile design enables reconfiguration for different uses.

The Chancellor, along with Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, were at the RAF station south of Lincoln, to meet defence industry leaders after the Government announced an extra £13.4bn of spending in this area with Lincolnshire in line to get an economic boost from the increase.