What You Need to Know: The UK's Ministry of Defence (MoD) is reportedly leaning towards purchasing additional F-35B Lightning II aircraft instead of expanding its fleet of Eurofighter Typhoons.

-The F-35B’s advanced capabilities, including its short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) feature, make it ideal for both the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth-class carriers and airbase operations. While the Eurofighter will continue to receive upgrades, the F-35 is considered more viable long-term.

-London has also earmarked funds for the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) to develop a sixth-generation fighter in partnership with Italy and Japan.

The UK Could Opt For Additional F-35 Fighters Over Eurofighter Typhoons

A week after it was reported that aerospace giant Lockheed Martin has been pressing the UK to increase its commitment to the full 138-unit procurement of the fifth-generation F-35B Lightning II, it seems that London may opt for more of the stealth fighters. According to international military analyst firm Janes, the UK's Ministry of Defence "is inclined to increase its combat aviation forces through an" F-35 follow-on buy "rather than acquiring more Eurofighter Typhoons."

The MoD is reported to be considering its long-term requirements, and that is where the F-35B could offer an advantage. The UK's Royal Air Force (RAF) operates the short takeoff vertical landing (STOVL) variant, which allows it to be employed as the airwing on the Royal Navy's Queen Elizabeth-class carriers as well as from air bases.

Moreover, the F-35B could remain in operation until the 2070s, far longer than the Eurofighter could be expected to see service.

"We have a foot in both [the F-35 and Eurofighter] camps, and for the RAF I very much see that the F-35 is where we are looking at to add combat mass. We are committed to an onward buy [of the F-35], so that is where we are looking," a British official told Janes from the sidelines of the IQPC International Fighter Conference (IFC) 2024 in Berlin on 6 November.

The official told the analyst firm under "the Chatham House Rule" (meaning with anonymity) the Eurofighter Typhoon will still remain a "core component" of the RAF, and that will include receiving upgrades and other enhancements to maintain its "operational capabilities." Yet, the MoD now appears to be "leaning" towards the Lightning II as part of the air service's longer-term requirements.

The UK has been negotiating terms for the acquisition of the second tranche of F-35s, which would see the fleet size grow to 74 aircraft – but that was later scaled back after London cited the program's rising costs during the previous Conservative government. The MoD had also expressed using money saved from the F-35 acquisition to fund the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) to develop a sixth-generation optionally-manned fighter and unmanned aerial systems (UAS). The UK is part of an international consortium that also includes Italy and Japan, with the partners working to field the GCAP fighter by the mid-2030s.

At issue is the size of the current RAF fighter force. A September 2023 parliamentary report published by the House of Commons Defence Committee warned that the UK has fewer than 160 combat jets. Complicating issues for the Labour government is how the RAF's and RN's fighters can be employed. Each of the UK's Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers can operate with up to 36 F-35Bs, so in theory, the entire fleet of the Lightning IIs could be dedicated to just that mission. While that would allow the Royal Navy to maintain a powerful airwing on its flattops, it would deprive the RAF of aircraft to carry out its own missions.

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].

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