UK takes delivery of two new F-35B fighter jets
The UK has committed to acquiring 138 F-35B STOVL fighter aircraft as a replacement for its now-retired Harrier fleet. (Photo: RAF on Twitter/UK Crown Copyright)
RAF Marham has taken delivery of two new Lockheed Martin F-35B short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) fighter aircraft.
The fifth-generation stealth jets were flown from Forth Worth, Texas, where Lockheed builds all F-35s. The two aircraft received air-to-air refuelling from an RAF A330 Voyager.
The UK’s existing F-35 fleet will receive maintenance and training support from Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems as the subcontractor under a £161 million ($204 million) deal inked in April.
The contract was signed by the US Joint Program Office (JPO) and the two companies.
The new deal aims to support the F-35 fleet until 2027, allowing the UK more freedom to operate the jets, increase the number of flying hours and deliver mission planning, training and maintenance.
2 new Lightning (F-35B) stealth fighters arrived at @RAF_Marham flown from Fort Worth, where all F-35s are built, to their new home with the support of a Voyager air-air refuelling tanker from @RAFBrizeNorton. Learn more about Lightning here: https://t.co/nd8qIaz62N pic.twitter.com/katuJUMM6J
— Royal Air Force (@RoyalAirForce) June 23, 2023
The UK has committed to acquiring 138 F-35B STOVL fighter aircraft as a replacement for its now-retired Harrier fleet. The UK is the second-largest customer for the F-35 and the only Tier 1 partner, which means that it is eligible for 15% of the production workshare across the whole F-35 programme.
As of March 2020, London had ordered 48 aircraft for delivery through to 2024, with the remainder to be acquired through a series of Lots and in conjunction with the wider F-35 effort. The last of the current order of aircraft will be funded in 2024 and delivered by January 2025.
The total cost of the currently funded programme as reported through the UK Major Projects Report is expected to be £10.5 billion ($13.5 billion), covering aircraft production through to 2024, through-life capability development and sustainment, delivery and integration of UK sovereign capabilities and infrastructure. Annual spending was £888 million ($1.1 billion) in 2016-17, £935 million ($1.25 billion) in 2017-18 and £803 million ($1 billion) in 2018-19.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![Attack drones versus CUAS – the future of warfare or just another trend?]()
Attack drones versus CUAS – the future of warfare or just another trend?
Demand signals for counter-drone technology are strong and the market is becoming crowded, but is this really the beginning of a new phase of warfare or will commentators be talking about something else 10 years from now?
-
![The 2020s: a decade of UAV spending growth]()
The 2020s: a decade of UAV spending growth
Total annual drone spending has increased nearly sixfold since the start of the decade, from $2.9 billion in 2020 to $16.3 billion in 2028, with Europe leading the rise.
-
![July drone digest: Sovereign production takes centre stage at Farnborough]()
July drone digest: Sovereign production takes centre stage at Farnborough
Farnborough International Airshow (FIA) 2026 revealed the growing scale of the UK’s uncrewed ambitions, with companies showcasing new CCA, autonomous wingmen and surveillance drones, while sovereign production emerged as a key factor for multiple programmes.
-
![July air forces review: Farnborough steals the headlines as programmes develop]()
July air forces review: Farnborough steals the headlines as programmes develop
The biannual Farnborough International Airshow 2026 was the backdrop in July for scores of deals, partnerships and announcements, including developments in the multinational next-generation Global Combat Air Programme and the UK’s $486 million trainer aircraft requirement.
