Royal Air FARCE: All of Britain’s Top Gun RAF pilots to be trained in the USA under radical military reform plans – in a move branded ‘reckless’ by ex-Tory Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson_Nhy
All RAF pilots are to be trained in the US under radical new plans to reform Britain’s military, it was last night claimed.
The proposals, which have been branded ‘reckless’ by ex-Tory Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson, would see recruits train in the US before returning to undergo standard RAF conversion courses.
Some 27 RAF pilots are already being trained in America and Italy at a yearly cost of £55million due to problems with the Hawk T2 trainer jets.
But military chiefs have warned that shifting all training across the pond would bring ‘radical changes’, The Express has reported.
Responding to the plans, Mr Williamson said: ‘You cannot surrender our capability to decide who we will train and in what quantity. Our allies will think we are giving up.’
‘If we ever find ourselves in armed conflict, we will be competing for resources with another nation,’ he added.
All RAF pilots are to be trained in the US under radical new plans to reform Britain’s military (file picture)
Former Minister Gavin Williamson attends the Conservative Party conference at Birmingham ICC Arena on September 29
Some 27 RAF pilots are already being trained in America and Italy at a yearly cost of £55million due to problems with half of the Hawk T2 trainer jets (file photo)
‘We need to have the ability to turn the valve and increase the number of pilots. That won’t be possible if we’re zooming across the Atlantic with a begging bowl, as Ukraine is forced to do.’
Penny Mordaunt, who was appointed Minister of State for the Armed Forces in 2015, described some of the considerations as ‘deeply concerning’.
She called for the Labour government to provide the Armed Forces with ‘stability and sustainability’.
The plans are being considered as part of Lord George Robertson’s ‘radical’ defence review which will be published in the first half of next year.
The review was launched by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in July to reevaluate Britain’s defence strategy amid an ongoing manpower crisis and questions over Britain’s ability to fight a war.
Among the plans being considered is a greater reliance on Britain’s NATO partners and a ‘complete recalibration’ of the British Army.
This may see the Army abandon heavy artillery for drones and the closure of several army bases as troops quit, according to The Express’s report.
It comes after Chancellor Rachel Reeves handed the Britain’s Armed Forces a £2.9billion spending boost in this week’s Budget.
Some £400 million is expected to be used to hand troops a six per cent pay rise, backdated to April.
The forces are currently hemorrhaging experienced personnel and struggle to attract new recruits.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves handed the Britain’s Armed Forces a £2.9billion spending boost in this week’s Budget
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves operates a Max Evo drone as Defence Secretary John Healey looks on
Some £400 million is expected to be used to hand troops a six per cent pay rise, backdated to April
Last week Defence Secretary John Healey questioned whether Britain was currently able to fight a war, in the latest warning about the state of the military.
The funding will also be used to buy weapons, with the aim of replenishing stockpiles depleted by donations to Ukraine.
But a pathway to increasing defence spending to 2.5 per cent of national economic output, demanded by the Tories, will not be in the Budget.
The Chancellor instead kicked the decision down the road, saying a date would be set at ‘a future fiscal event’.
Mr Healey was praised by his Tory predecessor Ben Wallace, who stood down as an MP at the election.
He said: ‘So credit where credit is due for John Healey. He got a one-year defence increase that leaves the door open for 2.5% of GDP in the future.
‘In doing so he continues my record of reversing both previous LABOUR and Tories hollowing out over decades.
‘The devil will be in the detailed split between revenue funding and capital funding but the increase continues and it is an important signal of a cross-party acceptance that defence needs more money.’
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence said: ‘We won’t comment on speculation.
‘The Strategic Defence Review will be published in the first half of 2025 and will establish the roles, capabilities and reforms required by UK Defence to meet the challenges, threats and opportunities of the twenty-first century.’
MailOnline has contacted the department for further comment.
