The Royal Air Force has backed a British firm to develop a new aircraft that can be converted from basic trainer to aggressive fighter by swapping engines and wings. Suffolk-based Aeralis was given £200,000 by the RAF to develop its 'modular' two-seater aircraft that will come in one of three variants depending on requirements. The variants have the same fuselage, but by fitting different engines and wings it can be transformed - allowing the RAF to operate with fewer aircraft in its fleet. A base version of the aircraft will be used as a trainer for combat exercises, but the modular design means it can be adapted as circumstances change.