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The UK is to purchase 12 US-made F-35 stealth fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear weapons, in a sweeping overhaul of the country’s defence strategy.
Under the plans, Britain will join Nato’s airborne nuclear mission, and the F-35A jets are expected to carry American atomic bombs, as the military alliance contends with the growing threat of Russia.
The UK government’s purchase of the aircraft marks a significant expansion of the country’s nuclear deterrent. Currently, Britain can only launch nuclear weapons from its Vanguard class submarines, which carry them on Trident ballistic missiles.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will announce the acquisition of the F-35A jets on Wednesday at a Nato summit in The Hague, where US President Donald Trump is expected to press European members of the alliance to increase their spending on defence.
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, ensuring our armed forces have the equipment they need and communities up and down the country reap the benefits from our defence dividend.”
The F-35 jet is made by Lockheed Martin of the US, but crucial components are manufactured in Britain.
The Nato summit is likely to be contentious due to Trump’s demands that European members of the alliance increase their defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP.
Mark Rutte, Nato secretary-general, has drawn up plans for allies to allocate 3.5 per cent of their GDP to core military spending and 1.5 per cent to areas such as cyber and infrastructure by 2035, to fill gaps in European capabilities.
Rutte praised the UK commitment to buy the F-35A jets. “The UK has declared its nuclear deterrent to Nato for many decades, and I strongly welcome [the] announcement that the UK will now also join Nato’s nuclear mission and procure the F-35A.”
The UK purchase restores an atomic role to the Royal Air Force for the first time since the country retired its air launched nuclear weapons at the end of the cold war.
The F-35A can carry both nuclear and conventional weapons, and the new jets will be based at RAF Marham in Norfolk.
The UK is already operating dozens of F-35B jets, notably from two Royal Navy aircraft carriers, but they are not capable of carrying nuclear weapons.
The government said it was committed to buying 138 F-35s in total.