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Air Force: Recruitment and Training

Asked by Graeme DownieLabourMinistry of DefenceTabled Answered 22 October 2025UIN 82161

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many pilots are expected to complete training and enter front-line service with the RAF in each of the next five years by (a) aircraft and (b) service type.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones

This information is not released into the public domain for operational and personnel security reasons.

For each training year, the number of pilots that are expected to complete training and commence Operational Conversion Units is based upon the front-line demand for qualified pilots in future years. The Royal Air Force (RAF) actively manage the pilot training pipelines to ensure that trainee flowthrough is kept to an optimum and meets the front-line requirements.

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