Red Arrows not under threat - defence secretary

Defence Secretary John Healey says there is "no threat" to the future of the Red Arrows

Defence Secretary John Healey has said there is "no threat" to the future of the Red Arrows.

Speaking at RAF Waddington on Friday, he made clear his support for the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team.

Healey said: "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 Red Arrows cost almost £80,000 a day to run

The jets, based at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire, cost almost £80,000 a day to run and their future was raised by Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty in Parliament last month.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who accompanied Healey on the visit, was asked about plans to increase defence spending to 2.5% of national income by 2027.

Reeves said: "The world has changed and we can see that before our eyes. With the threats that we see within Europe means we need to up what we spend on defence."

Earlier this month, Maria Eagle, the Minister for Defence Procurement, stated the Red Arrows' Hawk T1 aircraft would go out of service in March 2030 and the annual cost to maintain the aircraft was £27.7m.

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