Introduction – Why UK Fast Jet Pilot Training Matters Now More Than Ever As always, views my own. Corrections and comments welcome. 1/25 The United Kingdom faces a critical juncture in its military aviation capability. A shortfall in trained combat jet pilots threatens the operational effectiveness of frontline squadrons at a time when global security demands remain high. The ageing Hawk fleet, central to advanced jet training and the Red Arrows display team, approaches the end of its service life with no straightforward replacement in sight. Against this backdrop, BAE Systems has partnered with Boeing and Saab to promote the American-designed T-7A Red Hawk as the solution. This thread attempts to examine the current state of UK military flying training through available sources and explains, with detailed linked evidence, why the T-7A represents a poor strategic choice. It draws on public reports from the US Government Accountability Office, investigative journalism, and official statements to highlight programme delays, cost escalations, technical shortcomings, and sovereignty risks. My analysis seeks to conclude that, measured against available funding, the required timeframe, and the need for a cost-effective, UK-aligned system, this option falls (far) short and, just because BAES paints the tail with a Union Flag it doesn’t make it British.