In a bid to boost national security, the United Kingdom has announced it will purchase a dozen F-35A fighter jets.
The decision announced Wednesday comes as the U.K. prepares to join NATO’s dual capable aircraft nuclear mission—which aims to bolster nuclear, conventional, and missile defense capabilities to better deter nuke threats to the alliance.
According to a news release published by U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office, the purchase will support 20,000 jobs in the country’s F-35 program. The new jets will be based at Royal Air Force Marham station in England.
“In an era of radical uncertainty we can no longer take peace for granted, which is why my government is investing in our national security, ensuring our armed forces have the equipment they need and communities up and down the country reap the benefits from our defence dividend,” Starmer said in the release. “Supporting 100 businesses across the country and more than 20,000 jobs, these F-35 dual capable aircraft will herald a new era for our world-leading Royal Air Force and deter hostile threats that threaten the U.K, and our allies. The U.K.’s commitment to NATO is unquestionable, as is the alliance’s contribution to keeping the U.K. safe and secure, but we must all step up to protect the Euro-Atlantic area for generations to come,”
The F-35A is made by U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin. According to reporting by Sky News, British defense company BAE Systems also assists with production.
The release stated that buying F-35A jets as opposed to F-35B Lightning IIs will save 25 percent in costs per aircraft for taxpayers. The different capabilities of the F-35 aircraft types can be read about here.
“The purchase represents the biggest strengthening of the U.K.’s nuclear posture in a generation,” the news release stated. “It also reintroduces a nuclear role for the Royal Air Force for the first time since the U.K. retired its sovereign air-launched nuclear weapons following the end of the Cold War.”
