UK’s biggest weapons firm BAE grounds ‘lifeline’ aircraft delivering food aid | Global development

Britain’s largest arms manufacturer BAE Systems has quietly scrapped support for its fleet of aircraft providing “life-saving” humanitarian aid to some of the world’s poorest countries.

The decision further reduces the delivery of vital aid to countries facing serious humanitarian crises, including South Sudan, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

BAE Systems has posted record profits of more than £3bn this year, boosted by rising defense spending linked to the Israel-Gaza conflict and Russia’s war in Ukraine.

It is thought that the decision to cut off support for the aid plane was taken so that the defense company could continue projects related to the 5 percent increase in weapons expenditures of NATO members.

Since the decision, several major humanitarian aid contracts have been cancelled, including the UN’s contract with the World Food Program (WFP) to deliver aid to 12 destinations across Somalia, facing nearly 5 million people. “Crisis” levels of hunger.

Developments, BAE Systems voluntarily submit the type certificate Published by the UK Civil Aviation Authority Advanced Turbo-Prop (ATP)Thus, the airworthiness of the last commercial aircraft model was cancelled.

UAE informed European Union Aviation Safety Agency He said these models were “no longer produced and, to their knowledge, only a few aircraft were operated.”

Last known operator although ATP is still registered in many countries EnComm AviationA Kenyan air cargo operator specializing in providing humanitarian aid across East Africa.

Jackton Obuola, director of EnComm Aviation, said: “The assistance provided by our aircraft has provided a lifeline to the people of South Sudan, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo during a time of great global instability.

“The UAE’s sudden decision to withdraw support for all our aircraft has grounded the fleet and cut off vital supplies to those who need it most. Now, as the UAE prioritizes its own commercial interests, the people of East Africa face an increasingly dangerous situation.”

EnComm Aviation’s aircraft delivered 18,677 tons of aid to Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic and Chad from March 2023 until last month.

WFP estimates One ton of food, usually consisting of grains, pulses and oil, can meet the daily needs of approximately 1,660 people.

UAE’s ATP was considered ideal for humanitarian missions as it could operate on shorter airstrips common in remote locations. Each aircraft can carry one 8.2 tonnes (18,077 lb) payload.

A pre-suit letter dated 13 October 2025 sent to BAE Systems by lawyers acting on behalf of EnComm states that 12 aid aircraft have “failed to be operated” since the decision and are now “worthless for their intended purpose”.

The letter cites emails and meetings between the UAE’s senior leadership and EnComm Aviation that it claims show the Nairobi-based firm believes it will provide ongoing support to the UAE’s ATP for at least five years.

The communication, sent by London solicitors White & Case, says the decision was taken “without any consultation or formal notification to EnComm”.

A BAE Systems spokesman said: “We do not comment on potential litigation.”

Meanwhile, correspondence from BAE Systems shows that ATP’s decision to withdraw its airworthiness certificate was “permanent and irreversible”.

A letter dated 27 May 2025 from the head of the defense firm’s regional aircraft programs stated that the firm intends to notify the UK Civil Aviation Authority that it “wants to initiate the process of voluntarily surrendering the aircraft type certificate for the UAE ATP”. The goal was to complete this activity by December 2026.

Among the numerous humanitarian contracts that EnComm was forced to cancel is a 10-year agreement to operate in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Another is about WFP Somalia; EnComm’s planes will be based at two airports and four airstrips, where they will deliver food to areas in the country where food shortages are officially classified as a crisis. The contract, seen by the Guardian and agreed to be valid from 1 September 2025 to 31 August 2026, has been cancelled.

According to the UN, 4.6 million people Somalia faces crisis-level hunger, while 1.8 million children under the age of five suffer from acute malnutrition.

UN Food and Agriculture Organization in South Sudan, where EnComm flies to 12 different destinations, He warned that some regions were falling into famine.

In total, 7.7 million people in South Sudan 2.3 million children are malnourished and more than half of the population faces acute food insecurity.

Further south, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a record 27.7 million people experiencing acute hunger amidst conflicts linked to massive displacement, the climate crisis and rising food prices.

The situation is worst in the eastern provinces (North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri and Tanganyika), where families have lost access to their livelihoods following protracted conflict in the region.

EnComm’s contract with the country covered flights to 11 destinations, including the city of Goma, which was captured by Rwanda-backed M23 rebels at the beginning of the year.

EnComm Aviation has closed its operations in Kenya since BAE signaled its intention for the aircraft. It is now seeking £187 million in losses and damages, claiming BAE made “negligent misrepresentation and misrepresentation”.

Analysts expect the UAE system’s profits to rise further this year, benefiting from increased military spending globally amid growing instability.