Luke Pollard MP Delivers Keynote Address at Global Air and Space Chiefs’ Conference on Defence Readiness and Industry Insights

It is a pleasure to see you all once again. A year has passed since we last convened, and during my address at that time, I reflected on the dynamic narrative of air power and the significant challenges that lie ahead.

This narrative is one of ongoing creativity, innovation, and adaptability. Our ability to evolve continually is crucial for staying ahead of those who pose a threat to our security. Just three weeks ago, thanks to the outstanding efforts of Sir Harv Smyth, Chief of the Air Staff, and his team, the Defence Investment Plan was successfully published. This plan represents a monumental investment of £298 billion over the next four years, aimed at realising our Strategic Defence Review, with £31 billion specifically allocated for air and space initiatives. It is a transformative blueprint for a hybrid, digitally integrated, and AI-enabled air force.

A Blueprint for the Future of Defence

This blueprint is designed to enhance homeland security by unifying two commands into our new integrated air, space, and missile defence operations centre. It introduces three premier combat air platforms: the F-35, Typhoon, and Tempest, while also creating high-value employment opportunities across all four of the UK’s nations. Additionally, it injects £5 billion into UK drone innovation and capabilities, an increase from the previously announced £4 billion. This encompasses the development of autonomous fighter jets that will be networked with crewed platforms to enhance their effectiveness and survivability, positioning the Royal Air Force as Europe’s first sixth-generation air force.

These advancements secure a brighter future for our Royal Air Force, which will soon be rebranded as the Air and Space Command, and ensure a more secure outlook for the UK, our allies, and partners.

On a personal note, for those who have observed my media interviews regarding the Defence Investment Plan over the past year, I relish the thought of never having to reiterate that we are working tirelessly to implement it again. This is a welcome change for both my audience and myself.

The Importance of Teamwork in Air Power

When I addressed you a year ago, I emphasised that achieving the benefits of increased mass and lethality in the air is a collaborative effort. This sentiment remains true today, and our shared endeavour continues to thrive. From cockpits to hangars, drawing boards to production lines, and from RAF bases to Ramstein and beyond, our teams have consistently risen to the occasion over the past twelve months. Thanks to the contributions of allies, partners, and industry collaborators, we have fortified our defence, saved lives, and reimagined what is possible.

This teamwork has been evident in the North Atlantic, where our P-8 aircraft have increasingly collaborated with our Norwegian, US, Canadian, and German counterparts to counter Russian threats. On NATO’s eastern flank, our Typhoons have been actively patrolling over Romania and have conducted the RAF’s inaugural air defence sorties over Poland, defending against Russian incursions alongside our allies. The RAF’s contributions over the past year have significantly strengthened the NATO alliance and enhanced European deterrence.

Innovations in Naval Air Power

With HMS Prince of Wales representing the most advanced fifth-generation carrier strike capability, NATO has never before operated such a vessel. This is a source of pride for the UK. Earlier this month, its F-35s achieved a NATO first by conducting the Alliance’s inaugural air policing operations launched from a European carrier. During this period, they also had to contend with some rather aggressive Russian Bears. While I mention this lightly, we are all acutely aware of the serious dangers we face in these increasingly precarious times. The stakes are high, and we understand the skills and bravery required to meet these challenges head-on. As a Minister, particularly one who has been in this role for three years with a reshuffle imminent, I extend my gratitude to all who have served in the RAF and alongside our allied forces for their professionalism and dedication.

It is essential to recognise that it is not just those in the air who are pivotal; the contributions of those on the ground are equally vital for facilitating operations in the skies. While the UK remains firmly committed to NATO, our RAF F-35s have also conducted over 1,000 joint air exercise sorties as part of our 2025 Carrier Strike Group deployment to the Indo-Pacific. I extend my thanks to all our allies, particularly those present today, for their invaluable support during this endeavour. Our collaborative efforts spanned from Portugal to Australia, passing through Qatar, Oman, the UAE, India, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, South Korea, and Japan, with assistance from Canada, the US, and various European allies along the way. This operation was international by design and successfully executed.

Challenges and Successes in the Middle East

Earlier this year, many of these teams reunited in the Middle East as Iran targeted its neighbours in response to US and Israeli actions. The RAF completed over 3,000 hours of defensive missions, successfully intercepting over 100 drones and missiles. I would like to express my gratitude to the air crews and ground teams for their exemplary skills and the lives they saved. I want to particularly acknowledge our Rivet Joint intelligence gathering teams, especially those who faced Russian fire over the Black Sea in September 2022. Over the past year, the RAF has collaborated with 45 other nations for various exercises and operations. This formidable coalition reinforces our commitment to building an international Royal Air Force, which will remain a priority moving forward.

Strengthening Industrial Alliances

As Air Marshal Greg Bagwell mentioned in his introduction, part of our focus must also be on fortifying our industrial alliances. Partners in industry play a crucial role in our defence capabilities. It is both a cliché and a fact that our armed forces are only as strong as the industry that supports them, a reality starkly evident in Ukraine. Many nations are only now recognising the urgent need to foster closer ties with our industrial partners, both large and small, to enhance capabilities and innovation. Our industrial cooperation has made significant strides over the past year, both domestically and internationally.

I would like to thank the team at CGI and the supporting SMEs behind our Borealis Space Awareness System, which became operational this year, ahead of schedule by six months. I wish I could declare such punctuality more often in my role as a Minister, but it is gratifying to acknowledge this achievement. Additionally, our team at Space Flux has provided us with our first images from Noctis One, the UK’s new military space telescope. Collectively, these advancements grant the UK the sovereign capabilities necessary to monitor, protect, and defend our critical space infrastructure. It is crucial to recognise that space has emerged as a domain of growing competition, integral to modern warfare.

Emphasising All-Domain Warfare

For those who have heard my previous speeches, I have discussed the significance of all-domain warfare, a term that was not widely used in the UK until recently. It has now become a fundamental aspect of all our services and strategies, highlighting that operations in any domain require support from all others. This fundamental truth necessitates a reevaluation of how we deliver, deploy, and interconnect our services. To this end, we have established a new space systems group under the National Armaments Director to deliver enhanced capabilities in the space domain, enabling activities across all domains, including, for the first time in the UK, offensive space capabilities operated by six new specialist space squadrons, trained at the Defence Space Academy alongside our allies and international partners.

Sovereign capability was also the foundation for the development of Tempest, our sixth-generation combat jet, which we are creating in collaboration with our Italian and Japanese partners, as well as the Global Combat Air Programme that is drawing attention globally. Recently, we were pleased to initiate the design and test phase, awarding a £4.6 billion contract to the Reading-based Edgewing Consortium, which comprises BAE Systems, Leonardo, and various partners from the Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Company.

Economic Growth Through Defence Investments

BAE and its extensive network of British suppliers have significantly benefited from this year’s legacy capability partnerships, including the Türkiye Typhoon deal, the Ukraine GRIPEN deal, and various F-35 contracts, which promise to benefit thousands of UK workers involved in the manufacturing of these platforms. As we pivot our export campaigns, the UK is moving towards not just selling platforms but also components and services, enabling us to access more markets, support more allies, and simultaneously grow our economy.

Such deals and investments will reinforce our defence, airspace, and industrial base, which are essential for driving economic growth in the UK. This is supported by our upcoming Defence Export Strategy, which will focus on the comprehensive range of capabilities that British industry excels in, ensuring that our air forces also reap the benefits. This demonstrates how collaborative air power not only enhances capabilities among allies but also stimulates economic growth within our communities.

A Vision for the Defence Investment Plan

If you have not yet read the Defence Investment Plan, I highly recommend it. I previously encouraged many of you to delve into the Strategic Defence Review, and I trust many of you have. The Defence Investment Plan outlines a more ambitious vision and transformational changes that we have not witnessed in the UK during peacetime for an extended period. The space and aerospace industries will receive a substantial boost from this plan, fuelling these sectors for decades to come.

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