The recent controversial decision by the United Kingdom to decommission 30 Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets by 2025 has almost coincided with the recent pledgefrom British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to allocate £2.5 billion ($3.2 billion) in military funding to Ukraine this year during his visit to Kyiv. The procurement of long-range attack drones has been identified as a top priority in this commitment. Military Authorities have indicated that the upcoming drone deliveries represent the most extensive effort by any nation supporting Ukraine in its resistance against the Russian invasion in 2022. The majority of these drones are anticipated to be manufactured in the U.K. However, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has stated that collaboration with international partners is underway to substantially increase the quantity of drones provided to the Ukrainian military. As of now, specific details regarding the types of drones covered under this latest weaponry commitment from the British government are not yet available.
This agreement comes at a time of increasing concern in Ukraine over future funding plans by the U.S. and some European nations.
Since the beginning of the conflict with Russia, Ukraine has urgently requested, as a top priority, the supply of fighter jets. Initially, the focus was on acquiring F-16s, despite this model being phased out in many NATO countries in favor of the F-35. In fact, Ukrainian pilots are already undergoing training on F-16s from the air forces of Denmark, Norway, and the Netherlands, at bases located in Denmark and Romania.
Although the recent UK military aid agreement with Ukraine does not explicitly mention the transfer of Eurofighter jets from the RAF to Ukraine, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in a statement during the signing of the agreement on Friday, January 12th, in Kyiv: "I am here with one message: the UK will not waver. We will stand with Ukraine, in their darkest hours and in the better times to come," he said. "The UK is already one of Ukraine's closest partners because we recognize that their security is our security."
Another sign reinforcing this idea is that in Sunak's statement, he mentioned that 'there would be no backsliding on defense aid by the British.' Therefore, the transfer of these redundant Eurofighters from the RAF would not be a red line if it were proposed.
This proposal could have received substantial backing from pro-Ukrainian lobbying groups and pro- Ukrainian think tanks.
The military aid agreement between the United Kingdom and Ukraine on January 12th occurred after the announcement of the retirement of 30 redundant Eurofighter jets from the RAF. However, London is keenly interested in strengthening its ties with the Ukrainian government through the signing of this comprehensive security cooperation agreement during Sunak's visit – his second since assuming the position of prime minister last year.
Something that could further support this "not-so-surprising announcement" is that, at this time, no spokesperson from 10 Downing Street, the Foreign Office, and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has denied the possibility that it could be confirmed.
The Eurofighters that the United Kingdom has announced will be retired began entering service in 2003, with the RAF receiving 53 units of the 'Tranche 1', the first production standard. Other Eurofighter consortium member countries, Spain, Germany, and Italy, also started receiving their Eurofighters around the same time. However, unlike the UK, these countries not only have not announced the retirement of their initial 'Tranche 1' units but are undergoing processes of upgrade and modernization with new software and weaponry. This suggests that the aircraft designated for Ukraine could also enjoy the possibility of these technological upgrades.
The transfer of retired British Eurofighters to Ukraine could significantly bolster the defense and attack capabilities of the Ukrainian Air Force, marking a dramatic turn in the conflict. Ukraine would gain access to an aircraft that would far surpass in technology, sensors, and weaponry any combat aircraft in the Russian Air Force, including the SU-30 and SU-57.
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