By U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Eric Summers Jr. - Wikipedia
UK is set to purchase at least 12 F-35A fighter jets capable of carrying tactical nuclear weapons, marking what Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office describes as “the biggest strengthening of the UK’s nuclear posture in a generation.”
The announcement is expected to be formally made by Starmer on Wednesday during the NATO summit in The Hague, where alliance leaders are poised to endorse a substantial increase in defence spending. The acquisition will reintroduce an airborne nuclear capability to the UK’s armed forces for the first time since the Cold War, as Britain’s nuclear deterrence has until now been confined to submarine-launched ballistic missiles.
“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,” Starmer said in a statement ahead of the summit.
“These dual-capable F-35 aircraft will usher in a new era for our world-leading Royal Air Force and serve as a strong deterrent to any threats against the UK and our allies.”
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte welcomed the move, calling it “yet another robust British contribution to NATO.”
F-35A: A Dual-Capable Nuclear Platform
The F-35A, manufactured by US defense giant Lockheed Martin, is a variant of the F-35 fighter already in use by the Royal Air Force. Unlike the F-35B, which the UK currently operates, the F-35A is designed to carry both conventional munitions and tactical nuclear weapons.
According to AFP, seven NATO nations—including the US, Germany, and Italy—already station dual-capable aircraft on European soil that are able to deploy US B61 nuclear bombs. The UK’s acquisition of these jets is intended to enhance NATO’s shared nuclear deterrence through its nuclear dual-capable aircraft mission, Downing Street said.
The jets will be stationed at RAF Marham in Norfolk. The procurement is also expected to have significant economic benefits, supporting around 20,000 jobs in the UK, due in part to the country’s 15 percent share in the F-35 global supply chain.
European Defence Spending on the Rise
The NATO summit is also expected to approve a new goal for defence spending, raising the target from 2 percent to 5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). The UK, which has already committed to the higher spending threshold, is making significant investments in defence infrastructure, including new attack submarines and munitions production facilities.
This renewed focus on defence across Europe follows sustained criticism from the Trump administration, which has repeatedly argued that the US shoulders a disproportionate share of NATO’s financial responsibilities. Former US President Donald Trump has even questioned whether the US should defend alliance members that fall short of their spending commitments, and has previously threatened to withdraw from NATO altogether.
Other European countries are also responding to the growing threat from Russia with sweeping increases in military budgets. On Tuesday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Germany aims to build “Europe’s strongest conventional army” as part of its rearmament strategy.
