UK Warns of Critical Delay in SPEAR 3 Missiles for its F-35B Fighter Jets
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According to information published by the British daily The Telegraph on May 20, 2025, the Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm’s F-35B fighters will remain limited in their air-to-ground strike capabilities for several more years. Despite their advanced design, these aircraft currently rely solely on Paveway series guided bombs, due to the lack of integration of more sophisticated weaponry. The SPEAR 3 missile program, intended to fill this gap, has experienced significant delays, and its entry into service is now postponed to the early 2030s, according to an official response from the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to a parliamentary question. This confirms that British F-35Bs will continue to operate with a restricted weapons loadout, falling short of their intended multirole capabilities.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The UK currently operates 34 F-35B Lightning II aircraft, of which approximately 30 are in active service across the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force (Picture source: UK MoD)
The F-35B Lightning II, developed by Lockheed Martin, is a fifth-generation combat aircraft with unique features. It combines low observability, supersonic speed, and short take-off/vertical landing (STOVL) capability, allowing it to operate from light aircraft carriers, roads, or austere forward bases. The aircraft uses a shaft-driven LiftFan propulsion system, enabling vertical flight by overcoming the thermal and power challenges of direct-lift systems. This configuration reduces logistical constraints, increases sortie rates, and enables rapid deployment near conflict zones. The internal weapons bay can be adapted for air-to-ground, air-to-air, or mixed loadouts and can carry the GAU-22A 25 mm cannon when needed. When stealth is not required, external pylons can increase the payload to over 6,800 kg. The aircraft is equipped with the AN/APG-81 AESA radar, the AN/AAQ-37 DAS warning system, and the AN/ASQ-239 Barracuda electronic warfare suite.
Despite this platform’s technical configuration, the integration of the SPEAR 3 missile, a central component of its planned precision-strike capabilities, faces multiple hurdles. The SPEAR 3, developed by MBDA UK under the “Portfolio Management Agreement,” is a lightweight cruise missile with a range of over 100 km, using a turbojet engine, inertial and GPS navigation, and a data link. Initially scheduled for service entry in 2025, its first test firing only took place in November 2024 using an Eurofighter Typhoon, and its certification for the F-35B has now been pushed to the next decade. One of the main causes for this delay is Lockheed Martin’s difficulty in delivering the TR-3 software configuration, which is a prerequisite for the upcoming Block 4 upgrade. This future configuration is intended to enable new capabilities such as the integration of SPEAR 3. Additionally, U.S. export control and certification processes remain a significant constraint, as any weapon integration on the F-35 must be approved by Washington.
This situation has drawn increasing criticism within the UK political sphere. James Cartlidge, a Conservative Member of Parliament and defence affairs specialist, called for a more pragmatic and expedited approach to capability integration, even if that means accepting greater risk. He cited Ukraine’s rapid adaptation of its Su-24 aircraft to deploy the Storm Shadow missile as an example of how political will can accelerate deployment, even without full certification. According to Cartlidge, the Royal Air Force must gain access to modern, integrated weaponry for its fighter fleet in response to evolving threats, particularly from Russia.
According to The Military Balance 2025, the United Kingdom currently operates 34 F-35B Lightning II aircraft, of which approximately 30 are in active service across the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. These aircraft entered service in June 2018 with the 617 Squadron at RAF Marham, forming the first British carrier-capable fighter fleet since the retirement of the Harrier. Their first operational deployment took place in 2021 during Carrier Strike Group 21 (CSG21), marking the official return of UK carrier-based aviation. The UK plans to expand this fleet to 48 aircraft in the initial phase, while reiterating a longer-term objective of acquiring up to 138 units, subject to industrial and budgetary constraints.
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According to information published by the British daily The Telegraph on May 20, 2025, the Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm’s F-35B fighters will remain limited in their air-to-ground strike capabilities for several more years. Despite their advanced design, these aircraft currently rely solely on Paveway series guided bombs, due to the lack of integration of more sophisticated weaponry. The SPEAR 3 missile program, intended to fill this gap, has experienced significant delays, and its entry into service is now postponed to the early 2030s, according to an official response from the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to a parliamentary question. This confirms that British F-35Bs will continue to operate with a restricted weapons loadout, falling short of their intended multirole capabilities.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The UK currently operates 34 F-35B Lightning II aircraft, of which approximately 30 are in active service across the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force (Picture source: UK MoD)
The F-35B Lightning II, developed by Lockheed Martin, is a fifth-generation combat aircraft with unique features. It combines low observability, supersonic speed, and short take-off/vertical landing (STOVL) capability, allowing it to operate from light aircraft carriers, roads, or austere forward bases. The aircraft uses a shaft-driven LiftFan propulsion system, enabling vertical flight by overcoming the thermal and power challenges of direct-lift systems.
This configuration reduces logistical constraints, increases sortie rates, and enables rapid deployment near conflict zones. The internal weapons bay can be adapted for air-to-ground, air-to-air, or mixed loadouts and can carry the GAU-22A 25 mm cannon when needed. When stealth is not required, external pylons can increase the payload to over 6,800 kg. The aircraft is equipped with the AN/APG-81 AESA radar, the AN/AAQ-37 DAS warning system, and the AN/ASQ-239 Barracuda electronic warfare suite.
Despite this platform’s technical configuration, the integration of the SPEAR 3 missile, a central component of its planned precision-strike capabilities, faces multiple hurdles. The SPEAR 3, developed by MBDA UK under the “Portfolio Management Agreement,” is a lightweight cruise missile with a range of over 100 km, using a turbojet engine, inertial and GPS navigation, and a data link. Initially scheduled for service entry in 2025, its first test firing only took place in November 2024 using an Eurofighter Typhoon, and its certification for the F-35B has now been pushed to the next decade.
One of the main causes for this delay is Lockheed Martin’s difficulty in delivering the TR-3 software configuration, which is a prerequisite for the upcoming Block 4 upgrade. This future configuration is intended to enable new capabilities such as the integration of SPEAR 3. Additionally, U.S. export control and certification processes remain a significant constraint, as any weapon integration on the F-35 must be approved by Washington.
This situation has drawn increasing criticism within the UK political sphere. James Cartlidge, a Conservative Member of Parliament and defence affairs specialist, called for a more pragmatic and expedited approach to capability integration, even if that means accepting greater risk. He cited Ukraine’s rapid adaptation of its Su-24 aircraft to deploy the Storm Shadow missile as an example of how political will can accelerate deployment, even without full certification. According to Cartlidge, the Royal Air Force must gain access to modern, integrated weaponry for its fighter fleet in response to evolving threats, particularly from Russia.
According to The Military Balance 2025, the United Kingdom currently operates 34 F-35B Lightning II aircraft, of which approximately 30 are in active service across the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. These aircraft entered service in June 2018 with the 617 Squadron at RAF Marham, forming the first British carrier-capable fighter fleet since the retirement of the Harrier. Their first operational deployment took place in 2021 during Carrier Strike Group 21 (CSG21), marking the official return of UK carrier-based aviation. The UK plans to expand this fleet to 48 aircraft in the initial phase, while reiterating a longer-term objective of acquiring up to 138 units, subject to industrial and budgetary constraints.
