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The UK's leading defense company has quietly terminated maintenance for a group of planes that were delivering crucial emergency assistance to some of the world's poorest nations.

Humanitarian Emergency Worsens in Several East African Countries

This move further reduces the delivery of vital aid to nations facing severe emergency situations, such as South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

This arms firm this year reported historic earnings of more than £3bn, supported by increased military spending associated with international tensions.

Market observers believe the decision to scrap maintenance for the aid aircraft was made to allow the firm to pursue projects connected with higher defense budgets by international alliances.

Major Aid Contracts Terminated

Several important aid agreements have been cancelled since the decision, among them one with the UN's World Food Programme to deliver supplies to 12 destinations across East Africa where nearly five million people face emergency situations of hunger.

The development follows the firm's decision to willingly relinquish the type certificate granted by the Britain's aviation regulator for its last commercial plane type.

The manufacturer informed EU aviation regulators that these models were not produced and that, to their knowledge, very few planes remained in service.

Consequences on Aid Missions

Though multiple nations still have the aircraft registered, the last known operator was a East African air-cargo company that specialized in delivering emergency supplies across the region.

"The aid these aircraft delivered offered a lifeline to the people of South Sudan and the Congo during a period of significant global uncertainty," stated the company's leader.

"The unexpected termination of support for all fleet has immobilized the aircraft and cut off vital supplies to those most in need. Currently, the people of east Africa face an increasingly dangerous crisis while the manufacturer prioritizes their own profits."

From March 2023 and recently, the fleet delivered nearly 19,000 tons of aid to South Sudan, Chad, Central African Republic and other regional countries.

Food Needs Estimates

Per humanitarian agencies, one tonne of nutritional supplies – typically containing grains, legumes and oil – can satisfy the everyday requirements of approximately 1,660 individuals.

This specific plane type was regarded perfect for humanitarian missions because it could function on shorter airstrips that are typical in isolated locations. Every plane could transport a payload of over 8 tons.

Legal Action Started

A legal letter sent by legal representatives acting for the airline to the company states that, since the decision, its twelve humanitarian aircraft "are unable to be used" and are now "worthless for their intended use".

This documentation cites emails and meetings between the manufacturer's senior leadership and the operator that the Nairobi-based company claims demonstrate it was led to believe that ongoing maintenance would be offered for a minimum of five years.

The communication adds that the decision was taken "without any discussion with or official notice to" the airline.

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

Irreversible Decision

At the same time, documents from the manufacturer show that its move to withdraw the safety approval for the planes is "final and unchangeable".

One letter from the defense company's head of regional aircraft programmes, dated spring 2025, said the company intended to inform the UK aviation regulator it wanted to "start the procedure to willingly surrender the model approval."

Aid Crisis Data

• Across the region, over four million individuals face emergency levels of hunger
• Approximately 1.8 million children aged below five years are suffering from acute malnutrition
• Throughout the nation, over seven million individuals face acute food insecurity – more than 50% the entire population
• An unprecedented 27.7 million individuals in the Congo are experiencing severe food shortages

This situation is most severe in east provinces where families have lost access to their income sources after extended violence in the area.

Following the manufacturer's decision, the airline has ceased activities in Kenya and is now seeking £187m in losses and compensation for what it calls "negligent misrepresentation and inaccurate statements" by the company.

Market experts expect the arms company's profits to increase further this year as it profits from increased military spending worldwide amid increasing global tensions.