The UK government has announced plans to buy at least 12 new nuclear-capable F-35A fighter jets, which will join NATO’s airborne nuclear mission. The move is seen as a response to a growing nuclear threat and will strengthen the UK’s nuclear posture in a generation.
The new jets can carry conventional weapons but also have the option of being equipped with US-made nuclear bombs. NATO’s airborne nuclear mission involves allied aircraft being equipped with American B61 bombs, and seven other countries, including the US, Germany, and Italy, already use the F-35A.
The UK will need to obtain authorisation from NATO’s nuclear planning group, the US president, and British prime minister for the use of nuclear weapons. The US has pre-positioned stocks of B61 bombs in Europe, which may raise concerns about UK control over their release and use.
Defence Secretary John Healey said the investment would support 20,000 jobs and more than 100 companies across the UK in the supply chain. NATO secretary-general Mark Rutte called the announcement “yet another robust British contribution to Nato.”
The decision follows a Strategic Defence Review that confirmed new nuclear risks and a national security strategy published by the government, which includes a goal of spending 5% of GDP on national security by 2035. The move is seen as a victory for the RAF, which has long lobbied for a longer-range fighter capable of carrying larger bombs and missiles.
The F-35A jets will be based at RAF Marham in Norfolk and will operate alongside the existing F-35B variants, which currently operate from Royal Navy carriers.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c335406gxdvo