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The UK's primary arms manufacturer has quietly ended maintenance for a fleet of aircraft that were delivering crucial humanitarian aid to among the globe's poorest countries.

Aid Emergency Worsens in Several African Countries

The decision diminishes the distribution of vital aid to nations experiencing serious emergency situations, including South Sudan and the DRC.

This arms firm this year announced record earnings of more than three billion pounds, boosted by rising military expenditure linked to global conflicts.

Market observers believe the action to scrap support for the aid fleet was made to enable the firm to pursue projects related to increased defense spending by international alliances.

Significant Humanitarian Agreements Cancelled

Multiple critical humanitarian contracts have been cancelled following the decision, including one with the United Nations' WFP to deliver supplies to twelve destinations across East Africa where almost five million individuals face crisis levels of food insecurity.

The development follows the firm's decision to voluntarily relinquish the type certificate granted by the UK's Civil Aviation Authority for its last civilian aircraft model.

This manufacturer informed European aircraft regulators that these models were not manufactured and that, to their knowledge, only few planes remained in operation.

Impact on Humanitarian Operations

Although several nations still have the planes registered, the final operator was a East African cargo operator that focused in delivering humanitarian aid across east Africa.

"The assistance these planes delivered offered a lifeline to the people of Somalia and the DRC during a time of significant global instability," stated the company's leader.

"The unexpected termination of support for our entire fleet has immobilized the aircraft and halted vital supplies to those most in need. Currently, the people of the region face an increasingly perilous crisis while the manufacturer focuses on their own profits."

From March 2023 and last month, the fleet delivered nearly 19,000 tonnes of supplies to South Sudan, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo and other African countries.

Food Needs Estimates

According to humanitarian agencies, one tonne of food – typically including grains, legumes and oil – can satisfy the everyday requirements of about 1,660 people.

The specific plane model was regarded ideal for humanitarian missions because it could function on shorter runways that are typical in remote locations. Each aircraft could carry a load of over 8 tons.

Juridical Proceedings Started

One pre-action document submitted by lawyers acting for the airline to the company states that, following the announcement, its 12 aid aircraft "are unable to be operated" and are now "valueless for their intended use".

The documentation references emails and meetings between the manufacturer's executives and the airline that the Nairobi-based company asserts demonstrate it was led to believe that continued support would be offered for at least five more years.

This communication states that the decision was taken "without any consultation with or official notice to" the airline.

A representative for the arms company stated: "We do not provide statements on potential litigation."

Permanent Decision

At the same time, documents from the manufacturer indicate that its decision to revoke the airworthiness certificate for the planes is "permanent and unchangeable".

One communication from the arms firm's head of regional airplane programmes, dated May 2025, said the company planned to notify the British Civil Aviation Authority it wanted to "start the process to voluntarily relinquish the aircraft type certificate."

Humanitarian Crisis Data

• Across Somalia, 4.6 million people face emergency levels of hunger
• Nearly 1.8 million children aged below five years are suffering from severe hunger
• Throughout the nation, over seven million people face serious hunger – over half the entire population
• An unprecedented 27.7 million people in the DRC are experiencing severe hunger

The situation is most severe in eastern provinces where communities have been deprived of access to their livelihoods after extended violence in the area.

Since the manufacturer's announcement, the airline has closed operations in East Africa and is now seeking £187m in damages and compensation for what it calls "negligent misrepresentation and misstatement" by the company.

Market experts expect the defense company's profits to increase more this year as it profits from increased military spending globally amid growing global tensions.