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The UK's leading arms manufacturer has quietly ended maintenance for a fleet of planes that were providing life-saving humanitarian aid to among the world's most impoverished countries.

Aid Crisis Worsens in Several African Nations

This move diminishes the distribution of vital aid to countries experiencing severe emergency situations, such as South Sudan and the DRC.

This defense firm recently reported record profits of over three billion pounds, supported by increased military expenditure associated with international tensions.

Industry analysts believe the decision to withdraw maintenance for the humanitarian fleet was made to enable the firm to pursue ventures related to increased military spending by international alliances.

Major Humanitarian Contracts Terminated

Several critical aid agreements have been cancelled since the decision, including one with the UN's World Food Programme to transport aid to twelve locations across Somalia where almost five million people face emergency situations of hunger.

This situation follows the company's decision to willingly surrender the type certificate issued by the Britain's aviation regulator for its final civilian aircraft model.

The company informed EU aviation regulators that these models were no longer manufactured and that, to their knowledge, only few planes remained in operation.

Impact on Humanitarian Operations

Although several nations still have the planes listed, the final operator was a Kenyan air-cargo company that focused in transporting humanitarian aid across east Africa.

"The aid these planes provided represented a crucial support to the people of Somalia and the DRC during a period of significant global instability," stated the company's director.

"This sudden withdrawal of support for all planes has immobilized the planes and cut off essential supplies to those most vulnerable. Currently, the people of the region face an increasingly perilous situation while the manufacturer prioritizes their own profits."

From March 2023 and last month, the fleet delivered nearly 19,000 tonnes of aid to Somalia, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo and additional African countries.

Nutrition Needs Calculations

Per humanitarian agencies, one ton of nutritional supplies – usually including cereals, legumes and oil – can meet the daily requirements of about over 1,600 individuals.

This specific plane type was regarded perfect for aid operations because it could operate on shorter airstrips that are common in isolated locations. Each plane could carry a payload of over 8 tons.

Juridical Action Started

A legal letter sent by lawyers acting for the operator to the company claims that, since the announcement, its twelve humanitarian planes "are unable to be operated" and are now "valueless for their primary purpose".

This correspondence references electronic communications and discussions between the company's executives and the operator that the Kenyan company asserts show it was led to believe that ongoing support would be provided for a minimum of five more years.

The correspondence states that the decision was taken "without any discussion with or official notification to" the airline.

The representative for the arms manufacturer said: "The company do not provide statements on potential legal proceedings."

Permanent Decision

At the same time, correspondence from the manufacturer indicate that its move to revoke the safety approval for the planes is "final and unchangeable".

One letter from the defense firm's director of regional airplane programmes, from May 2025, stated the company planned to inform the British Civil Aviation Authority it wanted to "begin the process to voluntarily surrender the model approval."

Humanitarian Emergency Data

• In the region, over four million people face emergency levels of hunger
• Approximately two million children under five are experiencing severe malnutrition
• Throughout the nation, over seven million people face acute food insecurity – more than 50% the entire population
• An unprecedented over 27 million individuals in the Congo are experiencing acute food shortages

This situation is most severe in east regions where families have been deprived of ability to their income sources after extended violence in the area.

Following the company's announcement, the operator has ceased activities in Kenya and is now claiming £187m in losses and compensation for what it calls "careless false information and misstatement" by the manufacturer.

Industry experts expect the arms company's earnings to grow further this year as it benefits from increased defense spending globally amid growing international tensions.