The United Kingdom has announced plans to purchase a dozen U.S.-made F-35A fighter jets capable of carrying tactical nuclear weapons, marking the country’s most significant expansion of its nuclear deterrent in a generation.
The £1 billion acquisition of Lockheed Martin aircraft was confirmed during a NATO summit in The Hague, where Prime Minister Keir Starmer linked the move to escalating global instability and increasing threats from adversaries such as Russia.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks during his visit at the Netherlands marines training base, as part of the UK-Netherland Joint Amphibious Force in Rotterdam, on the sidelines of the NATO summit, in Rotterdam, Netherlands, June 24, 2025. Kin Cheung/Pool via REUTERS
“In an era of radical uncertainty we can no longer take peace for granted,” Starmer said in a statement.
The new fighter jets, each costing roughly £80 million, would enable the Royal Air Force to deliver air-launched nuclear weapons for the first time since Britain retired its WE-177 free-fall bombs in 1998. The F-35As will be capable of deploying U.S.-supplied B61 tactical nuclear weapons, reinforcing the UK’s role within NATO as a provider of dual-capable aircraft in the event of conflict.
Second Pillar of Nuclear Deterrence
Currently, Britain’s nuclear deterrent relies solely on its continuous at-sea Trident submarine fleet. The introduction of air-delivered tactical nuclear capability will establish a “second pillar” of deterrence, bringing the UK more in line with NATO allies such as the United States and France, which maintain nuclear capabilities across land, sea, and air.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer looks at a mock-up of a military encampment as he visits the Netherlands marines training base, as part of the UK-Netherland Joint Amphibious Force, on the sidelines of the NATO summit, in Rotterdam, Netherlands, June 24, 2025. Kin Cheung/Pool via REUTERS
The announcement also comes at a time when Washington is stepping back from its traditional role as Europe’s primary security guarantor. British officials say this step reflects a growing need for Europe to take greater responsibility for its own defense.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte welcomed the move, calling it “yet another robust British contribution to NATO.”
Boost to Defense and Industry
In addition to military capability, the deal is expected to support about 20,000 jobs in the UK, according to Downing Street. The government has pledged to increase defense and security spending to 5% of national income by 2035—a target expected to be endorsed by other NATO members at this week’s summit.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer watches a demonstration by troops as he visits the Netherlands marines training base, as part of the UK-Netherland Joint Amphibious Force, on the sidelines of the NATO summit, in Rotterdam, Netherlands, June 24, 2025. Kin Cheung/Pool via REUTERS
The new purchases also follow recent troubles with the UK’s submarine-based deterrent. A Trident missile test misfired last year—the second consecutive test failure after a similar incident in 2016—raising questions about the reliability of the country’s sole nuclear delivery system.
Britain’s last air-launched nuclear weapons were withdrawn over two decades ago, and the U.S. removed its remaining nuclear arsenal from British territory in 2008. The new fighter jets and their capabilities signal a significant reversal in post-Cold War disarmament trends.
As Prime Minister Starmer’s government presses forward with defense upgrades, officials warn that the country must be prepared for the possibility of war “at home” for the first time in decades.
