US to deliver 75 F-35 fighter jets to the UK by 2033 to shape Britain's future air force.

The UK Ministry of Defence expects to have taken delivery of its 75th F-35 Lightning II by the end of 2033, according to a written parliamentary answer from Defence Minister Lord Coaker.

In a written parliamentary answer dated January 5, 2026, UK Defence Minister Lord Coaker stated that the Ministry of Defence expects delivery of its 75th F-35 fighter jet by the end of 2033. The response clarifies the long-term delivery schedule without changing the minimum fleet commitment of 74 units. It confirms a phased acquisition approach rather than an accelerated procurement cycle.
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The United Kingdom has played a structurally important role in the development of the F-35 from its earliest stages, entering the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program in 1995 as the only Level 1 international partner. (Picture source: US Air Force)

The United Kingdom has played an important role in the development of the F-35 from its earliest stages, entering the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) initiative in 1995 as the only Level 1 international partner. This status reflected both financial contribution and political weight, granting the UK deeper access to the programme than any other non-US participant, including influence over design choices relevant to carrier operations and sovereignty requirements. For instance, the UK committed approximately $2.5 billion in development funding across the Concept Demonstration Phase and System Development and Demonstration Phase, representing around 10 percent of total non-US partner development costs, a higher share than any other partner nation.

Within the UK defence planning, the F-35 was designated as the Joint Combat Aircraft (JCA), intended to replace both the Harrier and, later, the Tornado. The JCA concept formally tied the aircraft to the Future Carrier programme, which resulted in the ordering of two Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers in 2007, making the UK the only partner developing a new carrier strike capability specifically around the F-35B variant. As a Level 1 partner, the UK also secured a major industrial role in the F-35 global supply chain, with British industry responsible for approximately 15 percent of the global F-35 airframe value, notably through BAE Systems’ production of the aft fuselage, vertical tails, and key electronic systems.

In parallel, Rolls-Royce holds a critical position as the design authority for the F-35B LiftSystem, including the shaft-driven lift fan, roll posts, and three-bearing swivel nozzle, developed in cooperation with Pratt & Whitney. This system is indispensable to the F-35B’s short takeoff and vertical landing capability and has no alternative supplier, meaning every F-35B produced globally depends on British propulsion hardware. The subsequent confirmation in July 2012 of an initial order for 48 F-35B aircraft marked not a reduction of strategic relevance, but a shift toward phased acquisition while preserving the UK’s central position within the aerospace industry.

In June 2025, the UK confirmed a second tranche of 27 additional aircraft, composed of 15 F-35Bs and 12 F-35As, bringing the planned total to 75 fighter jets, including 63 F-35Bs and 12 F-35As. Procurement policy continued to evolve during the 2010s and early 2020s as the UK sought to balance maritime aviation requirements with broader air power needs. The emphasis remained on ensuring that F-35 deliveries aligned with the readiness of carriers, squadrons, and training systems, rather than achieving a headline fleet size quickly. In March 2021, the government formally moved away from the 138-aircraft figure, stating instead that the fleet would grow beyond the 48 aircraft already ordered without committing to a final total.

This approach established 74 aircraft as a baseline planning figure rather than a ceiling, allowing flexibility for future decisions. As of November 12, 2025, the United Kingdom had received 41 F-35B aircraft, according to a separate parliamentary answer cited alongside the January 2026 statement. These aircraft were delivered as part of the first tranche, which comprises 48 jets planned for delivery by the end of 2025. British F-35Bs, operated jointly by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy, are based at RAF Marham, which was designated as the main operating base in 2013, and they routinely deploy aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales. The expectation of receiving the 75th aircraft by the end of 2033 implies a fully mature force, allowing time to expand pilot training, maintenance capacity, and support infrastructure to underpin UK combat air capability for several decades.

The principal variant currently in UK service is the F-35B, a short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) variant selected to operate from the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers without catapults or arrestor gear, thanks to its lift-fan system. The F-35B is powered by the Pratt & Whitney F135-600 engine, producing approximately 191 kN of thrust in vertical lift configuration, while allowing for a maximum speed of Mach 1.6, an internal fuel capacity of about 6.1 tonnes, and a combat radius of roughly 830 kilometers in a stealth configuration. Its internal weapons bays can carry combinations such as two AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles and two 1,000-pound class precision-guided bombs, while external hardpoints can be used when stealth is not required.

In addition to the F-35B, the United Kingdom has confirmed plans to introduce the F-35A, the conventional takeoff and landing variant of the F-35, as part of its longer-term procurement pathway. The F-35A, which offers a complementary capability to the carrier-focused B variant, is powered by the F135-100 engine with similar maximum thrust, is optimized for conventional runway operations, and offers a longer combat radius of approximately 1,090 kilometers due to greater internal fuel capacity of about 8.3 tonnes. It is equipped with an internal 25 mm GAU-22/A cannon, which the F-35B lacks internally, and supports a comparable internal weapons load in stealth configuration.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.