Breaking News: UK restores nuclear air force capability with purchase of 12 new US F-35A stealth fighters
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On June 24, 2025, the British government confirmed the purchase of 12 U.S.-built F-35A Lightning II fighter jets and formally announced its decision to join NATO’s Dual Capable Aircraft (DCA) nuclear-sharing mission. This represents the most substantial reinforcement of the UK’s nuclear posture since the end of the Cold War and reintroduces an air-delivered nuclear strike role to the Royal Air Force (RAF) for the first time since the WE.177 gravity bomb was retired from service in 1998.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
While these F-35As are UK-operated, they will carry U.S.-controlled B61-12 thermonuclear bombs, which are not transferred to the UK but remain under U.S. command in accordance with the Non-Proliferation Treaty. (Picture source: US DoD)
The F-35A aircraft are to be operated by the RAF and based at RAF Marham in Norfolk, where existing infrastructure and weapons storage vaults may be used or upgraded for the prospective stationing of U.S.-owned B61-12 thermonuclear gravity bombs. The UK’s sea-based Trident system will remain its primary strategic deterrent, but the introduction of the F-35A provides a complementary substrategic capability that aligns the UK with other NATO members hosting dual-capable aircraft and forward-deployed U.S. nuclear weapons.
The announcement will be delivered by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during the NATO summit in The Hague and follows high-level bilateral meetings between UK Defence Secretary John Healey and his U.S. counterpart at the NATO defence ministers’ gathering in Brussels. The procurement of the 12 aircraft is described by the UK government as part of a broader “NATO-first” strategy outlined in the 2025 Strategic Defence Review (SDR), which identified increased nuclear risks and the need to diversify the country’s deterrent posture. The SDR also warned of the growing threat of nuclear proliferation and the rising possibility of attacks on UK territory, highlighting Russia’s modernization of its nuclear arsenal, Iran’s expanding regional influence, and the potential for wartime scenarios requiring UK homeland defence. The purchase of the F-35A comes alongside pledges to raise UK defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035 and invest £15 billion during the current parliamentary term into the sovereign nuclear warhead program.
The F-35A is the conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) variant of the F-35 Lightning II, produced by Lockheed Martin. It is distinct from the F-35B Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) model already in use by the UK, which is capable of carrier-based operations aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales. The UK currently operates 38 F-35Bs, with 33 aircraft based in the UK and four assigned to the 17 Test and Evaluation Squadron (TES) in the United States. One aircraft was lost in 2021. The final 10 aircraft of the first batch of 48 F-35Bs are expected to be delivered by the end of 2025. The F-35A variant offers a longer range, higher payload capacity, and full compatibility with the B61-12 bomb. It was officially certified by the F-35 Joint Program Office in October 2023 to carry the B61-12, becoming the first fifth-generation stealth fighter with this capability. The certification includes integration of specific wiring, data interfaces, and modifications within the Block 4 upgrade path. These enhancements allow the aircraft to deploy nuclear payloads while maintaining low-observability and precision delivery profiles.
The B61-12 thermonuclear gravity bomb is the latest variant in the U.S. B61 series, which has been in service since the late 1960s. The B61-12 features four selectable explosive yields: 0.3, 1.5, 10, and 50 kilotons. It includes a guided tail kit assembly and inertial navigation system (INS), allowing for more accurate delivery and reduced circular error probable (CEP) compared to legacy variants. Its design supports deployment in a range of delivery modes, including free fall, laydown, airburst, and ground burst. The bomb is undergoing a Life Extension Program (LEP) aimed at refurbishing and modernizing 480 units by 2025 at a cost of $7.6 billion. The B61-12 replaces the B61-3, B61-4, and B61-7, and is considered the primary NATO air-delivered nuclear weapon. While the UK will operate the aircraft and provide storage and support infrastructure, the bombs will remain U.S. property and under U.S. control in compliance with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). The UK Ministry of Defence has declined to comment on precise basing arrangements, but it is understood that either RAF Marham or RAF Lakenheath, which is undergoing U.S.-funded upgrades, could serve as storage sites.
The UK government argues that opting for the F-35A over additional F-35Bs brings financial advantages, with unit cost savings of up to 25%. The F-35A is priced at approximately $118 million per unit, compared to $150 million for the F-35B, which includes costly components such as the vertical lift fan and roll-post nozzle. In addition to cost benefits, the F-35A provides a greater variety of payload configurations and can internally carry weapons that the F-35B cannot, such as the AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missile and larger precision-guided munitions. This broader compatibility enhances conventional strike capabilities while allowing the aircraft to remain in a stealth configuration. It is also more interoperable with NATO partners operating the F-35A, including Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Belgium, all of which participate in NATO’s DCA mission and host U.S. nuclear weapons.
The decision to purchase these aircraft is rooted in longstanding UK involvement in the Joint Strike Fighter program. The UK is the sole Level 1 partner in the F-35 project, having contributed $2.5 billion to the development phase. British companies provide approximately 15% of every F-35 built globally. BAE Systems manufactures the rear fuselage and horizontal tails, Rolls-Royce contributes to engine components, Martin-Baker supplies the ejection seats, and Leonardo UK, Cobham, GE Aviation, Ultra Electronics, QinetiQ, and Honeywell are also involved in key subsystems. The UK government states that this procurement will support more than 20,000 jobs and sustain over 100 suppliers across the country. The order is expected to contribute to the government’s aim of using defence procurement as an industrial stimulus. However, access to the full software source code and long-term maintenance rights remains under U.S. control. This arrangement continues to raise concerns about sovereignty, especially after prior UK efforts to secure an ITAR waiver and assurances of operational autonomy under the 2006 Bush–Blair agreement.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte welcomed the UK’s announcement, stating that the country had already pledged its nuclear deterrent to the Alliance for decades and that the new commitment to join the DCA mission strengthens NATO’s collective posture. Similar statements of support were made by officials from the U.S. Department of Defense. However, not all responses have been positive. Former UK Defence Secretary Lord George Robertson, who led the recent SDR, clarified to Parliament that while the option was considered, the review did not explicitly recommend an air-launched nuclear capability. He acknowledged that political leadership ultimately decided to move forward with the proposal. The Ministry of Defence has since emphasized that this decision is a response to the deteriorating global security environment and does not represent a departure from the UK’s NPT obligations or its stated goal of eventual global nuclear disarmament.
Operational integration of the F-35A into RAF squadrons will require new training, command and control procedures, and nuclear-specific security protocols. Pilot qualification, ground handling of nuclear-certified aircraft, storage vault access procedures, and compliance with NATO nuclear certification standards will all need to be addressed before the aircraft can enter rotation in the DCA mission. This process is likely to take several years. Although the UK has not publicly confirmed its initial operational capability (IOC) target date, prior NATO DCA participants have required significant preparation time before being fully certified. The UK is expected to follow similar timelines. The RAF will also need to balance this introduction with ongoing deliveries of F-35Bs and expansion of carrier air wing capacity, as the Navy and RAF currently operate jointly under the Lightning Force construct.
This decision follows wider commitments outlined in the Strategic Defence Review, including the construction of four Dreadnought-class ballistic missile submarines, upgrades to the Trident II D5 missile system, and the delivery of a new sovereign nuclear warhead through a £15 billion investment over the current parliamentary cycle. The UK’s current nuclear deterrent remains based on continuous at-sea deterrence (CASD), operated by the Royal Navy from HMNB Clyde. The F-35A’s introduction does not replace this system but adds a substrategic layer aligned with NATO’s forward-deployed posture. The UK previously hosted U.S. tactical nuclear weapons at RAF Greenham Common and RAF Lakenheath until their removal in 2008. With the return of nuclear-capable RAF aircraft and possible redeployment of B61-12 bombs on UK soil, the country is effectively resuming a role it played during the Cold War, albeit under stricter treaty and command constraints. The long-term strategic implications of this change in posture are expected to be monitored closely by both NATO allies and adversaries.
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On June 24, 2025, the British government confirmed the purchase of 12 U.S.-built F-35A Lightning II fighter jets and formally announced its decision to join NATO’s Dual Capable Aircraft (DCA) nuclear-sharing mission. This represents the most substantial reinforcement of the UK’s nuclear posture since the end of the Cold War and reintroduces an air-delivered nuclear strike role to the Royal Air Force (RAF) for the first time since the WE.177 gravity bomb was retired from service in 1998.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
While these F-35As are UK-operated, they will carry U.S.-controlled B61-12 thermonuclear bombs, which are not transferred to the UK but remain under U.S. command in accordance with the Non-Proliferation Treaty. (Picture source: US DoD)
The F-35A aircraft are to be operated by the RAF and based at RAF Marham in Norfolk, where existing infrastructure and weapons storage vaults may be used or upgraded for the prospective stationing of U.S.-owned B61-12 thermonuclear gravity bombs. The UK’s sea-based Trident system will remain its primary strategic deterrent, but the introduction of the F-35A provides a complementary substrategic capability that aligns the UK with other NATO members hosting dual-capable aircraft and forward-deployed U.S. nuclear weapons.
The announcement will be delivered by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during the NATO summit in The Hague and follows high-level bilateral meetings between UK Defence Secretary John Healey and his U.S. counterpart at the NATO defence ministers’ gathering in Brussels. The procurement of the 12 aircraft is described by the UK government as part of a broader “NATO-first” strategy outlined in the 2025 Strategic Defence Review (SDR), which identified increased nuclear risks and the need to diversify the country’s deterrent posture. The SDR also warned of the growing threat of nuclear proliferation and the rising possibility of attacks on UK territory, highlighting Russia’s modernization of its nuclear arsenal, Iran’s expanding regional influence, and the potential for wartime scenarios requiring UK homeland defence. The purchase of the F-35A comes alongside pledges to raise UK defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035 and invest £15 billion during the current parliamentary term into the sovereign nuclear warhead program.
The F-35A is the conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) variant of the F-35 Lightning II, produced by Lockheed Martin. It is distinct from the F-35B Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) model already in use by the UK, which is capable of carrier-based operations aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales. The UK currently operates 38 F-35Bs, with 33 aircraft based in the UK and four assigned to the 17 Test and Evaluation Squadron (TES) in the United States. One aircraft was lost in 2021. The final 10 aircraft of the first batch of 48 F-35Bs are expected to be delivered by the end of 2025. The F-35A variant offers a longer range, higher payload capacity, and full compatibility with the B61-12 bomb. It was officially certified by the F-35 Joint Program Office in October 2023 to carry the B61-12, becoming the first fifth-generation stealth fighter with this capability. The certification includes integration of specific wiring, data interfaces, and modifications within the Block 4 upgrade path. These enhancements allow the aircraft to deploy nuclear payloads while maintaining low-observability and precision delivery profiles.
The B61-12 thermonuclear gravity bomb is the latest variant in the U.S. B61 series, which has been in service since the late 1960s. The B61-12 features four selectable explosive yields: 0.3, 1.5, 10, and 50 kilotons. It includes a guided tail kit assembly and inertial navigation system (INS), allowing for more accurate delivery and reduced circular error probable (CEP) compared to legacy variants. Its design supports deployment in a range of delivery modes, including free fall, laydown, airburst, and ground burst. The bomb is undergoing a Life Extension Program (LEP) aimed at refurbishing and modernizing 480 units by 2025 at a cost of $7.6 billion. The B61-12 replaces the B61-3, B61-4, and B61-7, and is considered the primary NATO air-delivered nuclear weapon. While the UK will operate the aircraft and provide storage and support infrastructure, the bombs will remain U.S. property and under U.S. control in compliance with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). The UK Ministry of Defence has declined to comment on precise basing arrangements, but it is understood that either RAF Marham or RAF Lakenheath, which is undergoing U.S.-funded upgrades, could serve as storage sites.
The UK government argues that opting for the F-35A over additional F-35Bs brings financial advantages, with unit cost savings of up to 25%. The F-35A is priced at approximately $118 million per unit, compared to $150 million for the F-35B, which includes costly components such as the vertical lift fan and roll-post nozzle. In addition to cost benefits, the F-35A provides a greater variety of payload configurations and can internally carry weapons that the F-35B cannot, such as the AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missile and larger precision-guided munitions. This broader compatibility enhances conventional strike capabilities while allowing the aircraft to remain in a stealth configuration. It is also more interoperable with NATO partners operating the F-35A, including Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Belgium, all of which participate in NATO’s DCA mission and host U.S. nuclear weapons.
The decision to purchase these aircraft is rooted in longstanding UK involvement in the Joint Strike Fighter program. The UK is the sole Level 1 partner in the F-35 project, having contributed $2.5 billion to the development phase. British companies provide approximately 15% of every F-35 built globally. BAE Systems manufactures the rear fuselage and horizontal tails, Rolls-Royce contributes to engine components, Martin-Baker supplies the ejection seats, and Leonardo UK, Cobham, GE Aviation, Ultra Electronics, QinetiQ, and Honeywell are also involved in key subsystems. The UK government states that this procurement will support more than 20,000 jobs and sustain over 100 suppliers across the country. The order is expected to contribute to the government’s aim of using defence procurement as an industrial stimulus. However, access to the full software source code and long-term maintenance rights remains under U.S. control. This arrangement continues to raise concerns about sovereignty, especially after prior UK efforts to secure an ITAR waiver and assurances of operational autonomy under the 2006 Bush–Blair agreement.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte welcomed the UK’s announcement, stating that the country had already pledged its nuclear deterrent to the Alliance for decades and that the new commitment to join the DCA mission strengthens NATO’s collective posture. Similar statements of support were made by officials from the U.S. Department of Defense. However, not all responses have been positive. Former UK Defence Secretary Lord George Robertson, who led the recent SDR, clarified to Parliament that while the option was considered, the review did not explicitly recommend an air-launched nuclear capability. He acknowledged that political leadership ultimately decided to move forward with the proposal. The Ministry of Defence has since emphasized that this decision is a response to the deteriorating global security environment and does not represent a departure from the UK’s NPT obligations or its stated goal of eventual global nuclear disarmament.
Operational integration of the F-35A into RAF squadrons will require new training, command and control procedures, and nuclear-specific security protocols. Pilot qualification, ground handling of nuclear-certified aircraft, storage vault access procedures, and compliance with NATO nuclear certification standards will all need to be addressed before the aircraft can enter rotation in the DCA mission. This process is likely to take several years. Although the UK has not publicly confirmed its initial operational capability (IOC) target date, prior NATO DCA participants have required significant preparation time before being fully certified. The UK is expected to follow similar timelines. The RAF will also need to balance this introduction with ongoing deliveries of F-35Bs and expansion of carrier air wing capacity, as the Navy and RAF currently operate jointly under the Lightning Force construct.
This decision follows wider commitments outlined in the Strategic Defence Review, including the construction of four Dreadnought-class ballistic missile submarines, upgrades to the Trident II D5 missile system, and the delivery of a new sovereign nuclear warhead through a £15 billion investment over the current parliamentary cycle. The UK’s current nuclear deterrent remains based on continuous at-sea deterrence (CASD), operated by the Royal Navy from HMNB Clyde. The F-35A’s introduction does not replace this system but adds a substrategic layer aligned with NATO’s forward-deployed posture. The UK previously hosted U.S. tactical nuclear weapons at RAF Greenham Common and RAF Lakenheath until their removal in 2008. With the return of nuclear-capable RAF aircraft and possible redeployment of B61-12 bombs on UK soil, the country is effectively resuming a role it played during the Cold War, albeit under stricter treaty and command constraints. The long-term strategic implications of this change in posture are expected to be monitored closely by both NATO allies and adversaries.
