The UK government is set to purchase 12 new F-35A fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear weapons, marking the biggest strengthening of the UK’s nuclear posture in a generation.
The fighter jets, which can also carry conventional weapons, will enable the UK to participate in NATO’s airborne nuclear mission. The decision will be officially announced by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at the NATO summit in the Netherlands this week.
The F-35A aircraft will be based at RAF Marham in Norfolk and will join a multinational fleet of dual-capable jets used by NATO allies such as the US, Germany, and Italy. These fighter jets can be equipped with American-made B61 nuclear bombs, which are pre-positioned across Europe by the United States. Although these bombs remain under US control, their potential deployment in conflict would require joint authorisation by NATO’s Nuclear Planning Group, the US President, and the UK Prime Minister.
Defence Secretary John Healey said the investment would strengthen NATO’s collective nuclear deterrence and support more than 20,000 UK jobs and over 100 companies across the defence supply chain. He described the move as necessary given the evolving global threats identified in the UK’s recent Strategic Defence Review.
Speaking ahead of the NATO summit in The Hague, Sir Keir Starmer said: “In an era of radical uncertainty, we can no longer take peace for granted, which is why my government is investing in our national security.”
NATO welcomes purchase of fighter jets
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte welcomed the announcement, calling it another robust British contribution to NATO.
The move also marks a strategic victory for the Royal Air Force, which had long advocated for the longer-range F-35A variant over the shorter-range F-35B currently in service. Unlike the F-35B, which was selected for its short take-off and vertical landing capability suited to aircraft carriers, the F-35A offers extended range and the capacity to carry a wider array of weapons.
This shift also reflects a historic return to airborne nuclear capability. The RAF last operated nuclear-armed aircraft in 1998, when the UK-made WE177 tactical bombs were retired. Since then, Britain’s nuclear deterrence has relied solely on its submarine-based Trident system, launched from Vanguard-class submarines.
Though the Trident delivery system is American-built, the warheads are UK-made and maintained, preserving what successive British governments have insisted is an independent deterrent.
Justin Bronk, a defence expert at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), noted that while the RAF will need time to reintegrate into NATO’s nuclear mission, the acquisition of F-35As also significantly boosts the UK’s conventional air strike capabilities.
The announcement aligns with the UK’s new National Security Strategy, which warns of growing nuclear risks and urges preparedness for potential direct threats to the homeland. Sir Keir has committed to NATO’s emerging defence spending goal of allocating 5% of GDP to national security by 2035, including 3.5% for core defence needs.
At this week’s summit, NATO’s 32 member states are expected to endorse the new spending target amid rising global tensions and increasing demands on collective security.
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