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Britain's leading arms company has discreetly terminated support for a fleet of aircraft that were delivering crucial humanitarian aid to some of the globe's poorest countries.

Aid Emergency Worsens in Several African Countries

The move further reduces the distribution of crucial assistance to nations facing severe emergency situations, such as Somalia and the DRC.

This defense corporation recently announced historic earnings of over £3bn, supported by rising defense expenditure linked to global tensions.

Market analysts believe the action to withdraw support for the aid aircraft was made to enable the company to focus on ventures connected with higher military spending by global alliances.

Major Humanitarian Contracts Cancelled

Multiple critical aid agreements have been terminated since the decision, among them one with the UN's WFP to deliver aid to 12 destinations across East Africa where nearly five million individuals face crisis situations of hunger.

This development comes after the company's move to willingly surrender the airworthiness approval issued by the Britain's aviation regulator for its last civilian plane type.

This manufacturer informed EU aircraft authorities that these aircraft were no longer produced and that, to their knowledge, very few aircraft remained in operation.

Impact on Aid Missions

Though several countries still have the aircraft listed, the final user was a East African air-cargo company that focused in delivering emergency supplies across east Africa.

"Our assistance these planes provided offered a lifeline to the populations of South Sudan and the Congo during a time of significant worldwide instability," stated the operator's director.

"This unexpected termination of support for all planes has immobilized the aircraft and cut off essential resources to those most in need. Now, the populations of east Africa face an increasingly perilous crisis while the company prioritizes their commercial interests."

Between spring 2023 and last month, the aircraft delivered 18,677 tons of aid to South Sudan, Chad, Central African Republic and other regional countries.

Food Needs Estimates

According to humanitarian agencies, one ton of nutritional supplies – typically containing cereals, pulses and oil – can satisfy the everyday requirements of approximately 1,660 individuals.

This particular aircraft model was regarded perfect for humanitarian missions because it could operate on smaller airstrips that are common in isolated areas. Each plane could carry a load of over 8 tons.

Legal Proceedings Started

One pre-action letter submitted by legal representatives representing the operator to the manufacturer states that, since the decision, its twelve aid aircraft "cannot be used" and are now "worthless for their primary use".

This correspondence cites electronic communications and meetings between the company's executives and the operator that the Nairobi-based firm claims demonstrate it was given the impression that continued support would be provided for a minimum of five more years.

The communication adds that the action was taken "without any consultation with or formal notification to" the airline.

A representative for the defense manufacturer said: "The company do not provide statements on potential litigation."

Irreversible Decision

Meanwhile, documents from the manufacturer show that its decision to revoke the safety approval for the planes is "final and irreversible".

One letter from the arms firm's head of regional aircraft programs, from spring 2025, said the company intended to inform the British Civil Aviation Authority it wanted to "start the process to voluntarily surrender the model approval."

Humanitarian Crisis Data

• Across the region, 4.6 million people face crisis situations of hunger
• Nearly 1.8 million children aged below five years are suffering from acute hunger
• Throughout South Sudan, over seven million people face acute food insecurity – more than 50% the entire people
• An unprecedented over 27 million individuals in the Congo are experiencing severe hunger

This situation is most severe in eastern provinces where families have lost ability to their livelihoods after prolonged violence in the region.

Since the manufacturer's decision, the airline has closed activities in East Africa and is now seeking £187m in damages and compensation for what it describes "negligent false information and misstatement" by the company.

Market experts predict the arms manufacturer's earnings to grow more this year as it profits from increased military spending globally amid growing international tensions.