🔗 Share this article UK's Largest Arms Manufacturer Grounds Essential Aid Planes Delivering Food Assistance Britain's leading arms manufacturer has quietly terminated support for a fleet of aircraft that were providing crucial humanitarian aid to among the globe's most impoverished nations. Aid Emergency Deepens in Multiple East African Nations This decision diminishes the distribution of crucial aid to nations facing serious humanitarian crises, such as Somalia and the DRC. The arms firm recently reported record profits of over three billion pounds, supported by increased defense expenditure linked to global conflicts. Market analysts believe the decision to withdraw support for the humanitarian aircraft was made to enable the firm to focus on projects related to higher defense spending by global organizations. Significant Aid Contracts Cancelled Multiple important aid agreements have been cancelled since the decision, including one with the UN's WFP to transport supplies to 12 locations across Somalia where nearly five million people face crisis situations of food insecurity. The situation follows the firm's decision to willingly surrender the type certificate issued by the UK's Civil Aviation Authority for its final commercial aircraft model. This manufacturer notified EU aviation authorities that these aircraft were not manufactured and that, as far as they knew, very few aircraft remained in service. Impact on Aid Operations Although multiple countries still have the aircraft listed, the last known user was a Kenyan cargo company that focused in delivering emergency supplies across east Africa. "The assistance our planes delivered represented a crucial support to the people of South Sudan and the DRC during a period of significant worldwide uncertainty," stated the operator's director. "This unexpected withdrawal of maintenance for all fleet has grounded the aircraft and halted essential supplies to those most in need. Currently, the populations of the region face an growing perilous situation while the company focuses on their commercial profits." From spring 2023 and last month, the fleet delivered nearly 19,000 tonnes of aid to Somalia, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo and additional regional nations. Nutrition Needs Calculations Per aid agencies, one tonne of nutritional supplies – usually including grains, pulses and cooking oil – can meet the daily needs of about 1,660 people. This particular plane type was considered perfect for humanitarian missions because it could function on shorter runways that are typical in remote areas. Each plane could carry a payload of 8.2 tonnes. Juridical Action Initiated One legal document submitted by legal representatives representing the airline to the company states that, since the decision, its twelve aid planes "are unable to be operated" and are now "valueless for their intended purpose". The documentation references electronic communications and meetings between the manufacturer's senior leadership and the airline that the Kenyan company asserts demonstrate it was given the impression that ongoing maintenance would be provided for a minimum of five years. This correspondence adds that the action was taken "with no any consultation with or formal notice to" the airline. A spokesperson for the defense manufacturer said: "We do not provide statements on ongoing legal proceedings." Irreversible Decision Meanwhile, documents from the manufacturer show that its move to withdraw the safety approval for the aircraft is "permanent and irreversible". A letter from the defense company's director of commercial airplane programmes, from spring 2025, said the firm planned to inform the British Civil Aviation Authority it wanted to "start the process to willingly surrender the aircraft type certificate." Aid Crisis Data Across the region, 4.6 million people face crisis levels of hunger Approximately two million children aged below five years are suffering from acute malnutrition In South Sudan, 7.7 million people face serious hunger – over 50% the total people A record 27.7 million people in the DRC are experiencing acute hunger The crisis is worst in eastern regions where communities have lost ability to their income sources after prolonged violence in the area. Since the company's decision, the airline has ceased activities in Kenya and is now seeking £187m in losses and restitution for what it describes "negligent misrepresentation and inaccurate statements" by the manufacturer. Market analysts predict the defense company's earnings to increase further this year as it profits from rising military spending worldwide amid growing global instability.