US to retain control of nuclear bombs on UK F-35A jets
ukdefencejournal.org.uk
Defence Minister Lord Coaker clarified that while the UK controls the deployment and use of its F-35A aircraft, any American nuclear warheads they may carry under NATO’s nuclear sharing arrangements would remain under US custody and require US authorisation for release.

UK Defense Minister Coaker addressed the House of Lords, outlining details of Britain’s acquisition of U.S.-made F-35 jets.

Key points:

▫️ Britain will independently maintain and modify its future fighters;

▫️ Authorization for nuclear weapons use remains with the U.S.;

▫️ Acquiring F-35A jets is “part of NATO’s nuclear mission”;

▫️ By March 2026, the UK will add 27 more jets: 12 F-35A and 15 F-35B;

▫️ Cocker called the U.S. Britain’s “most critical ally.”

  • tal@lemmy.todayEnglish
    1·
    23 hours ago

    Acquiring F-35A jets is “part of NATO’s nuclear mission”;

    By March 2026, the UK will add 27 more jets: 12 F-35A and 15 F-35B;

    I hadn’t been following this closely recently, but if you go back far enough, the Royal Air Force had been planning to get F-35As and the Royal Navy F-35Bs. The A variant isn’t equipped for carrier operations, which makes it not really viable for the Royal Navy, but has longer range and more payload. Then there was some discussion at one point about maybe just having both use F-35Bs to help leverage commonality, which I imagine the Royal Air Force wasn’t too keen on. Sounds like they’re back to both the A and B model.