UK confirms purchase of 12 F-35As to restore RAF nuclear strike role

The UK government’s new Defence Investment Plan unveiled on June 30, 2026, confirms funding for 12 Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters, signaling a revival of the Royal Air Force’s (RAF) air-delivered nuclear deterrent. The plan aligns with commitments first announced in June 2025, reaffirming the UK’s intent to join NATO’s nuclear mission. The £298 billion ($393 billion) plan spans four years, boosting defense spending from £54 billion ($71 billion) currently to nearly £80 billion ($105 billion) by 2029, which represents about 2.7% of the UK GDP.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer introduced the extensive investment plan during a speech at Malloy Aeronautics, highlighting the scale and ambition of the upgrade. The plan emphasizes that the funding will equip the British Armed Forces with advanced capabilities to defend national and allied interests. Central to the nuclear deterrent budget, more than £63 billion ($83 billion) is allocated for critical programs including the Dreadnought and SSN-AUKUS submarine projects, a warhead replacement, and other nuclear initiatives. The document explicitly notes the purchase of 12 F-35A fighters as part of the nuclear deterrent modernization alongside joining NATO’s nuclear mission.

The procurement of the F-35A jets is a pivotal development, reinstating an air-delivered nuclear role for the first time since the retirement of the WE.177 gravity bombs in 1998. These aircraft will be stationed at RAF Marham in Norfolk and assigned to the 207 Squadron, the RAF’s Operational Conversion Unit. This move complements the United Kingdom’s existing submarine-based deterrent, carried by the Vanguard class and forthcoming Dreadnought class ballistic missile submarines.

The choice of the F-35A variant is particularly significant because it is the only F-35 model certified to carry the US B61-12 nuclear gravity bomb. This weapon is central to NATO’s nuclear-sharing arrangements, which the UK previously did not participate in, relying exclusively on its Royal Navy ballistic missile submarines for its nuclear deterrent. Notably, the UK’s existing F-35B fleet – operated by both the RAF and Royal Navy – lacks the capability to deliver nuclear weapons within NATO’s dual-capable aircraft framework.

Delivery of the RAF’s initial batch of 48 F-35B aircraft was completed in April 2026, and the next procurement phase includes the 12 F-35As, forming part of a longer-term plan to field a fleet totaling 138 F-35s. From a financial perspective, the government indicates that acquiring the conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) F-35A model offers savings estimated at up to 25% per aircraft compared to the F-35B variant. Despite this acquisition, the purchase remains capped at 12 units, raising debates about the limited scale and the fact that the nuclear weapons remain under US control, with Washington retaining final release authority over the B61-12 bombs.

This renewed UK commitment to nuclear sharing occurs as NATO explores the expansion of its nuclear-sharing arrangements, while European defense initiatives led by France seek to develop an independent deterrence capability centered around the Dassault Rafale fighters. The UK’s move marks a strategic alignment with NATO’s collective defense posture through shared nuclear responsibilities.

Beyond nuclear forces, the Defence Investment Plan also allocates significant resources to future air combat capability, dedicating over £8 billion ($11 billion) for the Global Combat Air Programme, a sixth-generation fighter project involving the UK, Italy, and Japan. Additionally, investment in robotic systems includes over £5 billion ($6.6 billion) for drone initiatives, with nearly £650 million ($860 million) dedicated to expendable autonomous systems for ground forces and special units.

The plan also tackles air defense and homeland protection, earmarking £790 million ($1.04 billion) for upgrades including new radar and sensor technologies, Directed Energy Weapons, enhanced air defense on Royal Navy Type 45 destroyers, and counter-drone systems. A further £11 billion ($14.5 billion) will be spent on munitions and weapons, such as long-range strike capabilities and low-cost cruise missiles. Separately, the UK government announced a £50 billion ($66 billion) defense export facility aimed at boosting British defense industry competitiveness internationally.