The UK government has officially clarified its evolving strategy on the F-35 program, confirming that 12 F-35A jets will replace 12 F-35Bs in the next batch of 27 fighters ordered. Defence Secretary John Healey emphasized the new F-35As are intended for the Operational Conversion Unit (OCU) to reduce training costs and complexity, and will be delivered before the end of the decade. However, the decision also aligns with the UK’s shift toward deeper NATO nuclear integration, as the F-35A is compatible with nuclear strike missions.
Although framed primarily as a cost-saving training solution, MPs and defence analysts see the inclusion of the F-35A as part of a broader political and strategic shift. The cheaper, longer-range A variant lacks the vertical landing capabilities of the B model, raising concerns about implications for UK carrier operations and industrial returns—particularly for Rolls-Royce, which manufactures components for the B variant.
The Ministry of Defence affirmed that all variants contain UK parts, but reduced orders of the B model may affect domestic aerospace earnings. No definitive timeline was provided for the full 138-jet target, which remains an aspiration stretching into the 2040s and beyond. Discussions continue about the future force composition, including Typhoon upgrades and the Tempest GCAP program, set to influence long-term airpower strategy.
