The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the last seven F-35Bs from the UK’s first tranche order will not arrive on schedule and that Lockheed Martin will face no financial consequences for missing the original date.
In a written answer to DUP MP Gregory Campbell published on 19 November, Defence Minister Luke Pollard said the department “expects to have received all seven F-35B aircraft ordered in Production Lot 17 by the end of April 2026.” The jets had been due before the end of 2025.
A follow-up reply on 25 November provided further detail. Pollard noted that while the Lot 17 aircraft “should have been delivered by the end of 2025,” current planning assumes “four of those aircraft will slip into 2026 and be delivered by April 2026 (a three to four month delay from the original contract).” He confirmed that “there is not a financial remedy for the delivery of Lot 17 aircraft.”
The answers highlight the limits of the Joint Program Office system, where partner nations buy aircraft through annual production lots rather than through bespoke bilateral contracts. Because of that structure, the UK cannot impose delay penalties, even when slippages cut across its own force-generation timelines.
The delay means the UK will not complete delivery of its first 48 F-35Bs by the end-2025 target previously referenced in Parliament. The aircraft form the backbone of both RAF Marham’s Lightning Force and the Royal Navy’s carrier air group.
The MoD maintains that the revised timeline does not change its ambitions for expanding the fleet once Tranche 1 is complete.
In related news, a separate written answer on 20 November addressed personnel shortages in the F-35 programme. Responding to Conservative MP Andrew Snowden, Pollard said the MoD had “inherited a retention and recruitment crisis from the last Government and are determined to fix it.”
He outlined measures aimed at rebuilding the RAF workforce, with a particular focus on engineering roles. The MoD has “surged recruitment for the RAF” across all specialisms, including joining bonuses for engineers and expanded capacity in Technical Training Schools to increase throughput. To stem departures, Pollard confirmed the RAF has introduced a Financial Retention Incentive for engineers.
The government argues that fixing personnel gaps is essential to sustaining the Lightning Force as more aircraft enter service and as carrier operations grow more demanding.
Yet another argument for buying none American or making our own. That clown show of a nation doesn’t deserve our business
100% We have F35s for our aircraft carriers now (albeit might not be a full compliment). I wonder if they could use the money to buy more Eurofighters and boost the Tempest program. Would be good if they could speed up the program and maybe add more variants.
Presumably this deal affects all customer nations, not just UK? Presumably 3 of the 7 will be delivered on time? Frustrating as the US situation is, there is no 5th gen alternative to the F35. Hence the pressure on Ottawa from Canadian military to stick with F35 rather than step backwards to 4th gen Grippen – and why we’re unlikely to order more Typhoons. Roll on Tempest. On balance, and taking the long view, the US is having a difficult time, and when they’re having a difficult time that’s when we stick by our friends. My American friends are as appalled at the situation as we are on this side of the pond. But nothing, and no one, lasts for ever. So, cool heads and a safe pair of hands on stick and throttle, chaps. If the Russians agree to this peace plan…watch out for 2027. And it’s budget day…
Great deal, well worked out with fair terms and we do nothing again. Every thing in the MOD is late, over budget or had numbers cut and thats after a rise in defence spending. Even the kit meant to be orderd from the review is delayed. Does any one know why? is it a change in whats needed, or is no real new money and hang on till next April then buy it as the MOD is out of money as spent it all on meetings and projects and service contracts?.
There are a few on here in the know and very well informed who can may be shed some light on this.