A | London, Oct 18 (UNI) Former British military pilots are being lured to China with large sums of money to pass on their expertise to the Chinese military, it is claimed.
Up to 30 former UK military pilots are thought to have gone to train members of China's People's Liberation Army, BBC reported.
The UK is issuing an intelligence alert to warn former military pilots against working for the Chinese military, the BBC said.
Attempts to headhunt pilots are ongoing and had been ramping up recently, Western officials say.
A spokesperson from the Ministry of Defence said the training and the recruiting of pilots does not breach any current UK law but officials in the UK and other countries are trying to deter the activity, the report said.
"It is a lucrative package that is being offered to people," said one official. "Money is a strong motivator." Some of the packages are thought to be as much as $270,000.
The retired British pilots are being used to help understand the way in which Western planes and pilots operate, information which could be vital in the event of any conflict, such as over Taiwan.
"They are a very attractive body of people to then pass on that knowledge," a Western official said. "It's taking Western pilots of great experience to help develop Chinese military air force tactics and capabilities."
The UK first became aware of a small number of cases of former military pilots being recruited in 2019 which were dealt with on a case-by-case basis, the BBC said.
The Covid-19 pandemic slowed attempts down, when travel to China was almost impossible but the attempts have now increased, leading to this alert.
The pilots have experience on fast jets and helicopters and come from across the military and not just the Royal Air Force. They have flown Typhoons, Jaguars, Harriers and Tornados.
F-35 pilots are not thought to be involved although China is thought to be interested in them. Some of the pilots are in their late 50s and left the military some time ago.
Pilots of other allied nations have also been targeted.
"We are taking decisive steps to stop Chinese recruitment schemes attempting to headhunt serving and former UK Armed Forces pilots to train People's Liberation Army personnel in the People's Republic of China," a Defence Ministry spokesperson said.
"All serving and former personnel are already subject to the Official Secrets Act, and we are reviewing the use of confidentiality contracts and non-disclosure agreements across Defence, while the new National Security Bill will create additional tools to tackle contemporary security challenges - including this one."
UNI MR。 The filming has officially wrapped on Daayra, the much-anticipated next film by Meghna Gulzar. It stars Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran in key roles. Jointly produced by Junglee Pictures and Pen Studios, the film now enters post-production and is slated for a 2026 theatrical release.
The makers shared the update on social media along with the photo of Meghna, Kareena and Prithviraj. They captioned the post as, "#Daayra! It’s a wrap! Months of hard work, creativity, and collaboration have come together to bring this story to life. Immense gratitude to the cast, crew, and everyone who made this journey possible. Onward to the next chapter! In Cinemas 2026"
Take a look at the post:
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Daayra is a gripping investigative crime thriller that explores how a diabolical act can trigger equal and opposite reactions, fracturing opinions across society. Rather than offering easy answers, Daayra encourages deeper thought, raising questions that will linger long after the story unfolds.
Meghna Gulzar brings her trademark sensitivity and narrative precision to the film, crafting a story that is as intellectually arresting as it is emotionally resonant. Anchored by compelling, nuanced performances from Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran, Daayra is further strengthened by a powerful ensemble cast that adds depth and gravitas to its world.
Daayra unites Junglee Pictures with Pen Studios, led by Dr Jayantilal Gada. The movie has been co-written by Yash and Sima alongside Meghna. Following Talvar and Raazi, Daayra marks Meghna Gulzar’s third collaboration with Junglee Pictures, continuing a creative partnership known for delivering cinema that sparks conversation and critical acclaim.
With filming now complete, the team looks forward to bringing this sharp, thought-provoking story to audiences in cinemas in 2026.
Also Read: Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran wish Daayra director Meghna Gulzar on her birthday。
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