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Empire Test Pilots' School: Aircraft

Asked by James MacClearyLiberal DemocratMinistry of DefenceTabled Answered 2 February 2026UIN 108095

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many aircraft does the Empire Test Pilots’ School currently (a) own or (b) lease.

Answered by Luke Pollard

QinetiQ, which operates the Empire Test Pilots’ School (ETPS) under contract with the Ministry of Defence, owns a fleet of 18 aircraft used in the delivery of the programme.

The types and volume of leases change annually given the trading system in place for access to assets with other NATO Military Schools and Training and Evaluation units, coupled with access where possible to UK Military assets. For ETPS 2025, 21 additional assets were used under such leases.

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