BRITAIN’S Red Arrows display team may trade in its iconic fleet for Russian-designed jets — sparking fury.
The M-346s are being considered by RAF chiefs who need to retire ageing Hawks.
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Replacing the aerobatic team’s iconic 50-year-old planes with Russian designed jets would be “outrageous”, Tories said last night.
The RAF could have to turn to Vladimir Putin as the Yorkshire factory that made the BAE Hawks closed in 2020 and the leading UK alternative is years away.
That may mean switching to Russian-designed jets, despite the Red Arrows’ publicly stated role of showcasing British industry and “reinforcing the reputation of the UK”.
Last night Tory Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge said: “When the Red Arrows perform their brilliant air displays, their red, white and blue vapour trails represent the Union Jack — not the Russian tricolour.
“Taxpayers would think it extraordinary.”
Tory MP Sir Alec Shelbrooke, a former defence minister, said the move would be “outrageous”.
He added: “For a country which has stood strong alongside Ukraine, it sends entirely the wrong message. It’s an insult to the thousands who have died.”
Former Air Marshal Edward Stringer said the Red Arrows were supposed “showcase British, kit, training and expertise”.
And former Chief Air Marshal Sir Mike Graydon warned: “This would be an extraordinary decision. There would be a strong reaction from the public.”
Since being set up in 1954, The Red Arrows have flown British-made aircraft — first the Folland Gnat and then the BAE Hawk. Predecessors the Black Arrows flew British Hawker Hunters.
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But the team’s Hawk T1s are due to be retired by 2030 while the newer Hawk T2s, desperately needed for pilot training, have been beset by engine problems.
They are due to go in 2040, but in November new Chief Air Marshal Sir Rich Knighton said: “I would like to replace the Hawk T2 as soon as we can.”
Bristol-based Aeralis are the best-placed UK firm to step in, but are yet to make a prototype. Other options include a revamped BAE Hawk, a US Boeing trainer, or the Korean KAI T-50 Golden Eagle.
But the Government confirmed it is considering the £19million Aermacchi M-346 jet — jointly developed by Russia and Italy.
Russian tyrant Putin has been pictured in the Russian version, known as the Yak-130, and Moscow has sold the fighter version to terrorist ally Iran.
Ex-RAF fast jet instructor Tim Davies said buying a Russian linked jet would be “treasonous”.
He told The Sun: “To replace this aircraft with anything that isn’t British would be a significant mistake, it would tell the world that the UK has lost it, that we can no longer design and build great training aircraft.
“To buy anything else, especially the Italian M-346 which is based on the Russian Yak-130 would be bordering on being treasonous.”
Defence Minister Maria Eagle said: “The Aermacchi M-346 fast jet trainer is one of several market options available.”
The Ministry of Defence added: “We have not yet engaged the market on the future Red Arrows jet.”
The M-346 was originally known as the YAK/AEM-130 after the Italian firm Aermacchi (AEM) joined forces with Moscow’s Yakovlev (YAK) in 1996.
State-owned Yakovlev also makes Russia’s formidable Sukhoi jets that blitz Ukraine.
Aermacchi rebranded the Yak-130 as the M-346 when the companies parted ways, but the exterior design remained the same.
Aermacchi’s new owners Leonardo insisted the M-346 was “produced in Europe to the most stringent Nato standards”.
They said at least 10 Nato air forces used it for training, including RAF pilots who have been forced to train in Italy, using Italian jets, due to shortages of working Hawks in the UK.
A Leonardo spokesman added: “The M-346 trainer is being assessed as an option for a number of emerging requirements, including by the United States.”
But they added that: “To-date, there have been no discussions with the UK Ministry of Defence about the possibility of the M-346 being used by the Red Arrows.”
