The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the delivery of all 48 F-35 aircraft ordered under Tranche 1 is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
Responding to a question from Gregory Campbell, Democratic Unionist Party MP for East Londonderry, regarding the timeline for the procurement, Maria Eagle, Minister of State for Defence, stated:
“The Prime Contractor of the F-35, Lockheed Martin, has confirmed its intention to deliver the 48 UK aircraft ordered so far (Tranche 1) by the end of 2025.”
The F-35 aircraft are a critical component of the UK’s future combat air capability, operated jointly by the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy. The fleet forms the backbone of the Carrier Strike Group, with the aircraft deployed aboard the Royal Navy’s aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales.
The delivery timeline reflects the Ministry of Defence’s broader investment in next-generation combat systems to enhance the UK’s operational capabilities in the years ahead.
By the end of 2024, the UK will have acquired 37 of the first 48 F-35B aircraft batch.
In a recent parliamentary exchange, Labour MP Luke Akehurst sought details on the progress of the UK’s F-35B procurement. His question to the Ministry of Defence, dated 12th September 2024, asked:
“To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many F-35B aircraft he expects his Department to have taken delivery of by the end of 2024.”
Responding on 8th October 2024, Luke Pollard, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence, provided the following update:
“Against the current schedule, it is projected that by end of calendar year 2024, the UK will have taken ownership of 37 F-35B aircraft.”
We recently reported the arrival of more F-35B jets, which means the UK, as of today, has 34 stealth jets. With one aircraft lost in an accident and four test jets in the US, there are now 30 of the type in operational service in the UK.
There is an expectation that all of the 47 in the first batch will be delivered by the end of 2025. Note that it would have been 48 if one didn’t crash.
After that, the Ministry of Defence expressed the intention to purchase another tranche of jets. Funding has been delegated for an additional tranche of F-35B jets for Britain beyond the 48 already ordered.
Jeremy Quin, then Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence, stated last year:
“Funding for a second tranche of F-35 Lightning has been delegated to Air Command as part of our recent annual budget cycle. Funding for Atlas A400M which not yet been delegated. A decision on future tranches of F-35B will be made in due course.”
For more on the planned additional A400M purchase see here, now, on to the F-35B.
“As you know, we are going to acquire 48. We have made it absolutely clear that we will be acquiring more. We have committed to have 48 in service by 2025, and we will be acquiring more. We have set that out in the IR. We will set out the exact numbers in 2025.
The 138 number is still there. That is a defined number and we are looking at keeping these aircraft carriers in operation for a very long period of time. I am not dismissing that number either. We know that we have 48 to which we are committed, and we know that we will buy more beyond that.”
How many are expected?
According to the Defence Command Paper titled ‘Defence in a Competitive Age’, the UK intends to increase the fleet size beyond the 48 F-35 aircraft it has already ordered.
“The Royal Air Force will continue to grow its Combat Air capacity over the next few years as we fully establish all seven operational Typhoon Squadrons and grow the Lightning II Force, increasing the fleet size beyond the 48 aircraft that we have already ordered. Together they will provide a formidable capability, which will be continually upgraded to meet the threat, exploit multi domain integration and expand utility.
The Royal Air Force will spiral develop Typhoon capability, integrate new weapons such as the UK developed ‘SPEAR Cap 3’ precision air launched weapon and invest in the Radar 2 programme to give it a powerful electronically scanned array radar. We will integrate more UK weapons onto Lightning II and invest to ensure that its software and capability are updated alongside the rest of the global F 35 fleet.”
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cant we move up production of the tempest program , after all we are in urgent need of fighter aircraft are not,
is their away to speed them up, just a thought.
No chance – modern Fighter Aircraft are very complex,the development times are very long for a reason,plus you need bucketloads of ££££££££££££££££££££.
I suspect Tempest will never enter operational service. In the interim it permits UK companies to develop technology that may permit those companies to play a leading role when this program is absorbed by a larger international, or American, program.
No more orders until they get meteor sorted out.
Idiot HMG (incl.MoD) for:
Ordering sufficient F-35Bs for the carriers in overload (>36) capacity + attrition replacements.Putting the F-35s in RAF squadrons and ownership, limiting carrier operations.Having the P-8s under the RAF. No other force does that with maritime patrol aircraft.