LONDON, — The United Kingdom is committing another £1.1 billion to upgrade and sustain its Eurofighter Typhoon fleet, ensuring the aircraft remains a major part of Royal Air Force (RAF) combat capability into the 2040s.
The funding is included in the government's 2026 Defence Investment Plan, which provides £5.4 billion for the UK's 107 remaining Typhoon aircraft between the 2026/27 and 2029/30 financial years. The additional £1.1 billion is specifically linked to the Long Term Evolution programme and wider sustainment work.
The investment covers improvements including the European Common Radar System (ECRS) Mk2 radar, communications, software, defensive aids and pilot helmet-mounted sights. The decision reverses an earlier January 2026 plan that focused upgrades on only 40 aircraft.
Defence Readiness and Industry Minister Luke Pollard confirmed that the investment covers the full 107-aircraft fleet.
Typhoon's air-defence role
Typhoon and the F-35 remain central to Britain's Integrated Air and Missile Defence capability. RAF Typhoons have recently been involved in protecting UK sovereign bases in Cyprus and supporting Gulf partners against drone attacks launched by Iran and its proxies.
The aircraft were also rapidly equipped with the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) to provide a lower-cost option for engaging drones during sustained air-defence operations.
The UK is separately investing £1.4 billion in the STRATUS missile programme, developed with France and Italy. The programme is intended to arm Typhoon aircraft and Royal Navy frigates and provide a major part of Britain's future long-range strike capability. It includes a UK-led low-observable subsonic variant and a high-speed variant.
Supporting Typhoon exports
The investment also supports Britain's aerospace industrial base and Typhoon export programme. In 2025, the UK reached an £8 billion agreement with Türkiye for 20 Typhoon aircraft, with options for additional aircraft. The deal is expected to support production and jobs across the UK supply chain, including at BAE Systems facilities in Warton and Samlesbury.
Part of a wider air-power plan
The Typhoon will operate alongside the F-35, GCAP and future autonomous combat aircraft as Britain develops what the government calls a “Next Generation Royal Air Force.”
The four-year plan allocates £2.2 billion to the F-35 programme, £8.6 billion to GCAP with Italy and Japan, and £300 million to Collaborative Combat Aircraft. Overall, £27.8 billion is allocated to air-domain capabilities through 2029/30, with at least £70 billion of further air-domain investment planned between 2030 and 2035.
The Ministry of Defence has stressed that longer-term figures represent current priorities rather than fixed commitments, meaning programmes can still be delayed, rescoped, reprioritised or cancelled.
The £1.1 billion Typhoon commitment therefore provides continued support for the RAF's existing fighter capability while Britain develops its next generation of crewed and uncrewed combat aircraft.
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