Following a brief parliamentary inquiry held in the House of Lords, the UK Ministry of Defence confirmed that the United States will deliver the last of the 75 stealth F-35 fighters acquired by the British Armed Forces by the end of 2033. These aircraft are key to consolidating the strike capabilities of the Royal Navy’s Carrier Strike Groups and to advancing the Royal Air Force’s plans to restore the air component of the nuclear deterrent. The announcement reflects a change in timelines compared to the original schedule, delaying the date on which both services will be able to operate their full complement of aircraft.
Based on the brief quotations available, it can be stated that the question regarding the acquisition of the F-35s was submitted by Lord Alan West, Baron West of Spithead: “To ask His Majesty’s Government when they expect to have received the 74 (sic) F-35 Lightning aircraft.” The response was provided by Lord Vernon Coaker, Baron Coaker and a senior official within the UK defence portfolio, who stated: “The Department expects to receive its 75th F-35 aircraft by the end of 2033.” Both the question and the response were submitted in writing and are publicly available on the UK Parliament’s website.
It is worth highlighting at this point that the United Kingdom announced last November that it had a fleet of 41 stealth fighters, with the goal of reaching a total of 48 aircraft by the end of the year—efforts that are reportedly still ongoing. These statements were made by Louise Sandher-Jones, who serves as Minister for Veterans and People in the British government, revealing that a significant number of F-35s remain to be delivered in order to complete the agreed schedule.
On the other hand, it should be noted that the aircraft delivered to date belong to the B variant of the fighter developed by U.S. company Lockheed Martin, whose main advantage lies in its ability to operate from the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers that equip the Royal Navy, while also being jointly operated with the Royal Air Force from RAF Marham. In particular, both services recently celebrated the achievement of Full Operating Capability for carrier-based operations, a milestone reached aboard HMS Prince of Wales during last year’s deployment known as Operation Highmast.
Returning to what was mentioned at the outset, it should be recalled that the confirmation of the purchase of 12 new F-35A fighters was announced by London as recently as June 2025, on the eve of the publication of the Strategic Defence Review issued by the new Labour administration. As previously reported, this acquisition is intended to form a squadron of aircraft capable of carrying U.S.-made B61-12 thermonuclear bombs, with this variant being the only one certified for that role.
In detail, this dozen aircraft would operate under the Royal Air Force, with RAF Marham in Norfolk as the likely main base, while RAF Lakenheath is considered a potential alternative. Both bases are notable for having storage facilities which, although requiring refurbishment after nearly two decades since the withdrawal of the last U.S. nuclear bombs from the country, would be capable of housing the weapons intended to be added to the United Kingdom’s nuclear deterrent, thereby reducing reliance on its current submarine-launched missile force.
*Images used for illustrative purposes
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Giving priority in procurement to the B variant of the F35 makes perfect sense to also strengthen the UK’s nuclear deterrence via its aircraft carriers and submarines vis a vis traditional nuclear adversaries. But procuring the A variant is unwittingly suggesting a dispersion of intended targets. Furthermore, aerodynamically, the F-35s are ill-suited for absolute stealth and deep penetration and are designed more for seizing air-superiority and enhanced maneuverability in a dog-fight scenario. But even these capability is eroded in an increasingly BVR realm particularly so in the age hypersonics and perhaps LEO-based lasers. So, why are British tax-payers’ funds being wasted on the F-35s even as late into the 2030s ?
People overestimate China Russian jets.Most believe China Russian jets don’t have a true 5gen when it comes to stealth.China still trying to steal plans for the f22 which no one else can touch and F22 almost 30 years old
China will already have torn half the world up by then. UK is about as trustworthy as Iran.
What a Stuoid Assertion to make, A lot more trustworthy than the US
In 2033 the model (F35, 5th generation) has become obsolete! By that time the Chinese and Russians will be operating 7th generation fighter jets!
What should be asked is not only why buy outdated aircraft, but why is the UK not building greater relationships (business, scientific, military, etc.) abroad (outside the US) to solidify its position on the world stage, instead of depending on the US in so many aspects, which not only uses large sums of money, but also creates a relationship of dependence (especially with an unreliable government presently in power in Washington, DC). The UK also needs to bring together a consensus with the rest of the world powers (specifically with the EU) on a tactical approach to defense issues, as well as economic interoperability. Looking at what yields maximum advantage, both economical as well as strategic defense on the world stage, should be a priority for the British Government (even going as far as doing a root cause analysis to gain a better understanding of the problems that has created and allowed the present situation to exist). As someone else mentioned, the adversaries of the West are not sitting idly by to gain economic and military strategic superiority. The UN is not realistically accomplishing its goals, and NATO is going to continue to lose an important partner in the future (i,e., the US) if current trends continue. As counterintuitive as it may seem (because some believe that interdependence means losing independence), developing a greater interaction (economic and strategic defense) with other major actors and creating stronger ties to counterbalance probable threats from abroad will make the UK stronger in the end. Even though there has been a history of strong ties with the US, circumstances inevitably change and the UK should not be left out in the cold when those changes will negatively affect the UK’s security.
Whats happened to to uk leading the world in building ,
We was the best in the world at one point now we can’t even build a road without it breaking up in cold weather all our industry is gone .
Everything u buy is foreign can’t we build our own planes
The UK needs to de-couple from the USA. Buying from America hurts British interests, it should be obvious from anti-intrusion law to forceing others to give up natural resources that the USA is a bad partner. They exist to create monoploy and as we know monoploy only as one winner and that winner is not British interests. Stop giving them the knife to press into others backs.
Actually the UK is developing it’s next gen fighter jets in collaboration with Italy and Japan but it is not expected to start entering service until mid 2030’s which makes buying the F35’s from America the right choice to replace our outdated jets to keep our military strength from depletion with the old jets being retired due to age and faults much like issues you have with an old car but with military equipment having too much in the garage getting fixed doesn’t bode well as a deterrent.