United Kingdom Announces Plans To Buy At Least 12 F-35As
The government of the United Kingdom announced on June 24 that it was now planning to purchase at least 12 F-35As, acquiring the conventional takeoff and landing version of the multirole stealth aircraft in addition to the short takeoff and vertical landing F-35B variant currently operated by the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm.
The F-35As will be purchased under the second phase of Royal Air Force F-35 purchases. The 12 F-35As are replacing 12 of 27 F-35Bs planned to be purchased and delivered by 2033, with the Prime Minister’s office claiming that the move offers cost savings of up to 25% per aircraft.
Also announced were plans to use the F-35As to join NATO’s nuclear sharing program once they enter operational service, marking the resumption of the Royal Air Force’s nuclear weapon delivery mission after the UK’s gravity nuclear bombs were decommissioned following the end of the Cold War.
In a statement announcing the plans, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said it heralded a “new era” for the Royal Air Force. He said the purchase would support 100 businesses across the country and more than 20,000 jobs, stressing that the “UK’s commitment to NATO is unquestionable”.
According to the Royal Air Force, the F-35As will be used “day-to-day” in a training role on 207 Squadron, the Operational Conversion Unit (OCU) at RAF Marham, as the F-35A’s greater fuel capacity and reduced maintenance requirements compared to its F-35Bs make it better suited for the training of Royal Air Force F-35 pilots, with Director Capability and Programmes, Air Vice-Marshal James Beck saying:
For routine day-to-day operations, we have deliberately chosen to home the F-35A on the Operational Conversion Unit, as it can provide greater flying time per sortie and requires less maintenance hours. Consequently, it will reduce the time taken to train new pilots and improve F-35 Force Generation to support Carrier Strike operations around the world.
The UK currently does not have the capability to air to air refuel F-35A, with no current intention to enable this in the future. Procurement Minister Maria Eagle replied to an Urgent Parliamentary Question on Wednesday, confirming that as the F-35As will be operating under a NATO mission NATO partners will provide the refuelling capability if needed. Eagle also added that the government is “hopeful” F-35A deliveries will start “before end of decade”.