Sir Keir Starmer has been urged to protect thousands of UK jobs by buying British-made fighter aircraft as part of a £13.4billion boost to defence spending.
Unions want the Government to buy Typhoon aircraft, manufactured largely by UK defence giant BAE Systems, instead of F-35s produced by US firm Lockheed Martin – although many of the parts for the F-35 are also made in the UK.
It follows the Prime Minister’s announcement that defence spending will increase to 2.5% of GDP from April 2027, a rise of £6billion once inflation is taken into account.
Sir Keir said the cash will keep the nation safe and “unlock prosperity through new jobs, skills and opportunity across the country”.
A UK order of 24 Typhoons would secure 26,000 jobs for two years for workers at BAE, Rolls-Royce and other British firms, according to trade union Unite. Buying F35s would only secure 2,000 British roles, the union said.
But Unite, which lobbied Parliament in support of the Typhoon, also argued the UK should not become reliant on a US manufacturer while Donald Trump is president.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham, who met Defence Secretary John Healey on Wednesday, said: “There is an immediate decision to be made on the replacement of ageing RAF fighter jets with British-made Typhoons. This decision needs to be made in the UK’s favour.
“Any thought of wooing Donald Trump by selling our defence jobs abroad and replacing the RAF fleet with US-made F35s will be resisted and would be an act of self-harm.
“We simply can’t find ourselves in a situation where Trump wakes up in a bad mood and locks us out of using our own fighter jets.”
The F-35 is regarded as a fifth-generation fighter aircraft and is believed to have better stealth capabilities than the Typhoon, which also known as the Eurofighter because the project is overseen by the UK, Germany, Italy and Spain.
According to defence experts, the Typhoon is regarded as a “4.5th” generation aircraft and is slightly less advanced. However, it is said to have the edge over its rival plane in close-quarter dogfights.
The UK has not confirmed plans to buy any new aircraft but is thought to be looking at procuring around 24 planes before the sixth-generation BAE Systems Tempest comes into service in 2035.
Unite also argues that building new Typhoons will ensure the UK has the trained, skilled workers needed for the next generation of fighters.
Ministers have previously stressed there is significant British involvement in the F-35. About 15% of every aircraft delivered globally is manufactured by UK companies, with the rear fuselage, batteries, ejector seats and actuators for the entire F-35 global fleet made in the UK.
No decision is expected until the Strategic Defence Review, a major government assessment of the UK’s entire defence capabilities, due in the spring. Italy last year placed an order for 24 Typhoons at a cost of £6billion.
While the defence spending boost has been prompted by concern about the threat from Russia and US pressure on European nations to contribute more to their own defence, Labour is also presenting it as part of a plan to grow the economy.
Defence spending by the Government already supports more than 430,000 jobs across the UK – one in every 60, Downing Street said.
