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The UK's leading arms company has discreetly terminated maintenance for a fleet of aircraft that were providing life-saving humanitarian aid to among the globe's most impoverished countries.

Humanitarian Emergency Worsens in Several East African Nations

The move diminishes the delivery of crucial aid to countries facing severe humanitarian crises, such as South Sudan and the DRC.

The defense firm this year reported historic earnings of more than £3bn, supported by increased military spending linked to international tensions.

Industry analysts suggest the decision to scrap maintenance for the humanitarian fleet was taken to allow the company to pursue projects related to increased military budgets by global alliances.

Major Aid Contracts Terminated

Several critical aid agreements have been cancelled following the decision, including one with the UN's WFP to deliver aid to 12 locations across Somalia where nearly 5 million people face crisis levels of food insecurity.

The development comes after the company's decision to voluntarily relinquish the airworthiness approval granted by the UK's aviation regulator for its final civilian aircraft model.

This company informed EU aviation regulators that these models were no longer produced and that, as far as they knew, only few planes remained in operation.

Consequences on Humanitarian Missions

Although several countries still have the aircraft listed, the final user was a East African cargo company that focused in transporting humanitarian aid across east Africa.

"Our assistance our aircraft delivered offered a lifeline to the populations of Somalia and the DRC during a time of significant worldwide uncertainty," commented the company's leader.

"This unexpected withdrawal of maintenance for all planes has grounded the planes and halted vital resources to those most vulnerable. Now, the populations of the region face an growing dangerous crisis while the manufacturer focuses on their own profits."

From spring 2023 and recently, the aircraft delivered 18,677 tons of supplies to Somalia, Tanzania, Central African Republic and additional regional nations.

Nutrition Security Calculations

According to humanitarian agencies, one tonne of nutritional supplies – usually containing grains, legumes and oil – can meet the daily needs of approximately over 1,600 individuals.

The particular aircraft type was regarded ideal for humanitarian missions because it could function on smaller runways that are typical in remote areas. Each plane could transport a payload of 8.2 tonnes.

Legal Action Started

One pre-action document sent by lawyers representing the operator to the company claims that, since the decision, its 12 humanitarian aircraft "are unable to be operated" and are now "valueless for their intended use".

This correspondence cites electronic communications and discussions between the manufacturer's executives and the airline that the Kenyan company claims show it was given the impression that continued maintenance would be offered for at least five more years.

This correspondence adds that the action was taken "without any discussion with or official notification to" the airline.

The spokesperson for the defense company said: "The company do not provide statements on potential legal proceedings."

Permanent Decision

Meanwhile, correspondence from the manufacturer indicate that its decision to withdraw the airworthiness certificate for the aircraft is "final and unchangeable".

A letter from the defense company's director of commercial airplane programmes, from May 2025, stated the firm planned to inform the British aviation regulator it wanted to "start the process to voluntarily relinquish the aircraft type certificate."

Humanitarian Emergency Statistics

• Across Somalia, 4.6 million individuals face crisis levels of hunger
• Approximately 1.8 million children aged below five years are experiencing severe hunger
• In the nation, 7.7 million individuals face serious food insecurity – more than 50% the total population
• A record over 27 million individuals in the Congo are experiencing acute hunger

This situation is most severe in east regions where communities have been deprived of access to their livelihoods after extended violence in the region.

Since the company's announcement, the operator has ceased operations in East Africa and is now seeking £187m in damages and restitution for what it calls "careless misrepresentation and inaccurate statements" by the manufacturer.

Industry analysts predict the arms company's earnings to increase more this year as it profits from rising defense spending globally amid growing international instability.