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The UK's leading arms company has discreetly ended maintenance for a fleet of aircraft that were providing crucial humanitarian aid to among the globe's most impoverished countries.

Humanitarian Emergency Worsens in Several African Nations

The move diminishes the distribution of crucial aid to nations experiencing serious emergency situations, including South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The arms corporation recently reported record profits of more than £3bn, boosted by rising military spending associated with international tensions.

Industry analysts suggest the action to withdraw support for the aid fleet was taken to enable the company to pursue ventures related to increased military budgets by global alliances.

Major Humanitarian Contracts Terminated

Multiple critical aid contracts have been cancelled since the announcement, including one with the UN's WFP to transport aid to 12 locations across East Africa where almost five million individuals face crisis levels of hunger.

This situation comes after the company's decision to voluntarily relinquish the type certificate granted by the UK's aviation regulator for its last civilian plane type.

This manufacturer notified EU aircraft regulators that these aircraft were not manufactured and that, as far as they knew, very few planes remained in operation.

Impact on Humanitarian Missions

Although multiple countries still have the aircraft registered, the final user was a Kenyan cargo company that focused in transporting emergency supplies across east Africa.

"The assistance our planes provided offered a crucial support to the people of South Sudan and the Congo during a time of significant global uncertainty," stated the operator's leader.

"The sudden termination of maintenance for our entire fleet has grounded the planes and cut off vital supplies to those most in need. Currently, the populations of east Africa face an growing dangerous situation while the manufacturer focuses on their own profits."

Between March 2023 and last month, the aircraft transported 18,677 tonnes of supplies to Somalia, Chad, Central African Republic and additional African nations.

Food Needs Calculations

According to humanitarian organizations, one tonne of food – typically containing cereals, pulses and cooking oil – can satisfy the daily requirements of approximately over 1,600 individuals.

This particular aircraft type was considered perfect for aid operations because it could operate on shorter airstrips that are common in isolated locations. Each aircraft could carry a load of 8.2 tonnes.

Juridical Proceedings Started

One legal letter sent by lawyers representing the airline to the manufacturer claims that, since the announcement, its 12 aid planes "are unable to be used" and are now "valueless for their primary use".

This documentation references emails and discussions between the manufacturer's executives and the airline that the Kenyan firm asserts show it was led to believe that ongoing support would be provided for a minimum of five more years.

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

The representative for the defense manufacturer said: "We do not comment on potential litigation."

Irreversible Decision

At the same time, documents from the manufacturer indicate that its move to withdraw the airworthiness certificate for the planes is "permanent and unchangeable".

A letter from the defense company's director of regional airplane programmes, from May 2025, said the firm planned to notify the UK Civil Aviation Authority it wanted to "start the procedure to willingly relinquish the model approval."

Humanitarian Crisis Data

• In the region, 4.6 million individuals face emergency situations of food insecurity
• Approximately 1.8 million children under five are suffering from acute malnutrition
• Throughout South Sudan, over seven million people face acute food insecurity – more than half the total people
• A record over 27 million individuals in the Congo are facing severe hunger

This situation is worst in east regions where families have lost ability to their livelihoods after prolonged conflict in the area.

Since the company's decision, the operator has ceased activities in Kenya and is now claiming £187m in losses and compensation for what it describes "careless misrepresentation and inaccurate statements" by the company.

Market experts expect the arms manufacturer's earnings to grow more this year as it profits from rising defense expenditure worldwide amid increasing international instability.