London (Agencies): July 8, 2025 — The final assembly line for the Eurofighter Typhoon at BAE Systems’ Warton facility has officially shut down, drawing fierce criticism from Unite, the UK’s largest manufacturing union, which called the move a “betrayal” of workers and a threat to national defense capabilities.
The closure follows the completion of the last Typhoon aircraft for Qatar, with no new domestic or export orders secured. Hundreds of skilled workers have been redeployed to other BAE sites or Royal Air Force (RAF) bases, raising concerns about the erosion of critical aerospace expertise.
Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham condemned the government’s failure to place a new order for updated Typhoons, warning that the lack of forward planning jeopardizes both jobs and the UK’s ability to produce next-generation fighter jets under the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP). “This is an act of national self-harm,” she said.
The union has long advocated for a fourth tranche of Typhoons, including the advanced T5 variant, to bridge the gap until GCAP enters full production later this decade. Without such an order, Unite warns that the UK risks losing a generation of aerospace talent and weakening its sovereign defense manufacturing base.
The Warton site, which has been assembling Typhoons since 2000, is one of four final assembly hubs in the Eurofighter consortium, alongside facilities in Germany, Italy, and Spain. While the UK government has suggested that future export deals could revive production, Unite argues that relying on foreign buyers without domestic commitment is unrealistic and damaging.
The Ministry of Defence has yet to respond to the union’s demands for immediate action. Meanwhile, industry observers warn that the skills drain could undermine the UK’s role in GCAP, a joint stealth fighter project with Italy and Japan slated to replace the Typhoon in the 2030s.