Air Force: Recruitment
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the letter from his Department's Permanent Secretary to the Chair of the Public Accounts Committee on 30 April 2026, what progress he has made on improving the fill rates of engineering posts across the Lightning Force.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones
The plans the RAF has put in place continue to deliver positive results for achieving the 2032 target.
Air Command has focused efforts on the engineering resourcing needed to maintain the fleet (58% RAF and 42% RN). Current fill rates are approximately 75%, which is comparable with other platforms.
The RAF has plans in place to fill its remaining engineering posts by 2032. This date is driven by the amount of time (up to three years) it takes to ensure engineers are fully competent on an aircraft type. The number of personnel recruited into the Engineering Profession, who are now in the training system, has already increased.
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