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The United Kingdom must buy 12 F-35 stealth hunting planes made in the United States capable of transporting nuclear weapons, in a radical overhaul of the country’s defense strategy.
Under the plans, Great Britain will join the airborne nuclear mission of NATO, and F-35A planes should transport American atomic bombs, as the military alliance faces the growing threat of Russia.
Buying the British government of the plane marks a significant expansion of the country’s nuclear deterrence. Currently, Great Britain can only launch nuclear weapons from its Vanguard class submarines, which transport them on trident ballistic missiles.
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Keir Starmer will announce the acquisition of the F-35A jets on Wednesday at a NATO summit in Hague, where US President Donald Trump should put pressure on European members of the Alliance to increase their defense expenses.
Starmer said: “In an era of radical uncertainty, we can no longer take peace for acquired, which is why my government is investing in our national security, ensuring that our armed forces have the equipment they need and the communities from top to bottom of the country benefit from the advantages of our defense dividend.”
The F-35 jet is made by Lockheed Martin from the United States, but crucial components are made in Britain.
The NATO summit is likely to be controversial due to Trump’s demands that European members of the Alliance increase their defense expenses to 5% of GDP.
Mark Rutte, NATO secretary general, has developed plans for allies to allocate 3.5% of their GDP with basic military spending and 1.5% to areas such as cyber and infrastructure by 2035, to fill gaps in European capacities.
Rutte praised the British commitment to buy the F-35A jets. “The United Kingdom has declared its nuclear deterrence to NATO for many decades, and I strongly welcome [the] Announces that the United Kingdom will also join the NATO nuclear mission and will get the F-35A. »»
British purchase restores an atomic role for the Royal Air Force for the first time since the country withdrew its nuclear weapons launched at the end of the Cold War.
The F-35A can carry nuclear and conventional weapons, and the new jets will be based in Raf Marham in Norfolk.
The United Kingdom already operates dozens of F-35B jets, especially from two aircraft carriers of the Royal Navy, but they are not able to transport nuclear weapons.
The government said it was determined to buy 138 F-35 in total.
