Mon dieu, Boris! Ministers face promoting ‘Global Britain’ in a FRENCH jet after Ministry of Defence buys new VIP fleet to replace ageing British-made planes

 Ministers face having to bang the drum for Britain on the world stage while travelling in a French-built passenger jet after the Ministry of Defence opted to overhaul its VIP aircraft fleet. 

Boris Johnson has made advancing 'Global Britain' one of his Government's main priorities. 

But ministers charged with pushing the Prime Minister's policy agenda abroad will soon have to use a French-built plane, rather than a British one, for their trips. 

The current fleet of four RAF BAe-146 passenger aircraft, which is operated by the Number 32 (The Royal) Squadron, will be replaced by two French planes

The Ministry of Defence has agreed a new £80million contract to replace its current fleet of planes for VIPs, according to The Times. 

The current fleet of four RAF BAe-146 passenger aircraft, which is operated by the Number 32 (The Royal) Squadron, will be replaced by two French planes.

The newspaper reported that the French-built Dassault Falcon 900LX will be operational from next month. 

An RAF source said: 'The deal is with a British company so there is British influence in there. 

'These aircraft have been bought at a very competitive price and they are available very quickly.'

The source told the newspaper that other options under consideration by the Ministry of Defence did not tick all the required boxes. The current planes were originally used by members of the royal family but more recently they have been increasingly used by defence ministers and military figures. 

Other ministers are also allowed to use the aircraft for official Government trips abroad. 

The four RAF BAe-146 passenger aircraft are exclusively operated out of RAF Northolt by the Number 32 (The Royal) Squadron. 

The RAF said the primary role of the aircraft 'is the transport of senior government ministers and Ministry of Defence (MOD) personnel and, most famously, senior members of the Royal Family, although this work represents by far the minority of 32(TR) Sqn’s tasking'. 

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has made advancing 'Global Britain' one of his Government's main priorities

Outside of VIP work, the aircraft can also be used in an operational role 'in-theatre', helping to move around defence personnel and small freight items.  

A Ministry of Defence spokesman told The Times that the current planes will be 'replaced by two more sustainable aircraft to continue the UK's global engagement'. 

The department said the new aircraft will generate lower emissions than their predecessors because they have smaller engines but will also be able to fly further.