The British government has confirmed that it is not expected to receive any new F-35 fighter jets before the early 2030s, creating a gap of several years without reinforcements for the fleet.
The information was disclosed in a response to Parliament and comes even after London announced in 2025 that it would acquire additional aircraft beyond the 48 F-35Bs originally ordered.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the next batch will consist of 27 aircraft, including 12 F-35A units intended for NATO’s nuclear deterrence mission, as well as additional F-35Bs. However, the final schedule still depends on negotiations between the United Kingdom and the F-35 Joint Program Office, which is responsible for the project’s international coordination.
With deliveries of the first 48 F-35Bs completed, and following the loss of one aircraft in an accident in 2021, Britain’s carrier-based air force is expected to remain at the same number of fighter jets for several years. The government has only said that it expects to begin receiving the new aircraft at the start of the next decade, indicating that further delays still cannot be ruled out.
The pause in deliveries also affects the country’s strategic plans. The future F-35As will be used for NATO’s nuclear mission from RAF Marham, while the current F-35Bs will continue to support carrier-based operations aboard HMS Prince of Wales and other alliance missions, even as the responsibilities of the British fleet expand over the coming years.
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Source: UK Defence Journal | Photos: Royal Air Force | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
