Despite Political Tensions, the Royal Air Force Is Buying More F-35s
Currently, the British military operates approximately 146 fighter aircraft, including 111 Eurofighter Typhoons and 35 F-35B Lightning IIs.
The Royal Air Force appears to have decided to purchase more F-35 Lightning II stealth aircraft—turning down a proposal to buy additional Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets.
According to The Times, the Labour government has quietly decided to purchase additional F-35 stealth fighter jets instead of reinforcing its larger fleet of Eurofighter Typhoons with additional fighter aircraft.
More F-35 Stealth Jets Heading to the UK
The F-35 is a fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, while the Eurofighter Typhoon is a fourth-generation aircraft. The British military operates more of the latter, which can make sustainment easier and reduce overall costs. However, the F-35 is the stronger aircraft between the two—and, facing a hostile international climate and a resurgent Russia, this likely tipped the balance in the American plane’s favor.
The Labour government will almost certainly face domestic opposition to this decision. In January, a key Labour group released a statement in support of purchasing more Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets over the F-35. Notably, while most F-35 manufacturing takes place in the United States and does not come with substantial benefits for Britain’s defense industrial base, the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft is a joint enterprise among Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom, and some of the planes are manufactured at a plant in Lancashire in northern England.
“The government has been clear that the British economy needs growth, and that our defence industry is crucial to this. Selling the Typhoon overseas can contribute to our GDP, but we cannot expect foreign governments to buy our fast jets if our own government won’t,” Rhys McCarthy, defence and aerospace national officer of the influential Unite the Union group, said in a statement. “It’s clear that they need to make a decision to ‘make and buy British.’”
To be sure, the Eurofighter Typhoon is an effective platform. The European-made is a highly capable multirole fighter jet that can conduct air superiority and strategic strike missions. The aircraft can achieve speeds of approximately 1,400 miles per hour (Mach 1.8) and can carry a plethora of air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions. It has seen an abundance of action abroad, especially against terrorist groups in the Middle East and Africa.
However, the jet’s pure role remains that of air-to-air combat. The Royal Air Force has been deploying fighter jets in NATO’s eastern borders, especially in the Baltic and Black Seas, to counter Russian aggression.
The British military currently operates the “B” version of the F-35 stealth fighter jet, which is the Short Take-off, Vertical Landing (STOVL) iteration of the aircraft. STOVL aircraft can take off and land like helicopters but still operate like normal fighter jets. This inherent flexibility makes STOVL aircraft versatile and lethal.
London specifically chose the “B” version of the F-35 because of the configuration of its two aircraft carriers. The F-35’s “C” variant is also equipped for aircraft carrier use, but Britain’s two aircraft carriers have shorter decks than their American counterparts, necessitating vertical capabilities.
The final decision has not been announced yet. Regardless of the result, the British fighter jet fleet is not in the best condition.
The British Fighter Jet Fleet
Currently, the British military operates approximately 146 fighter aircraft, including 111 Eurofighter Typhoons and 35 F-35B Lightning IIs. The Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm jointly operate the F-35 stealth fighter jets.
However, the Eurofighter Typhoon fleet has come under particular strain in recent months. The Royal Air Force recently decided to retire 49 of the Typhoons within “Tranche 1”—the first batch and oldest version of the fighter jet. Out of these aircraft, the Royal Air Force will dispose of seventeen, put twelve in storage for future disposal, use four for ground training, deploy four in the Falkland Islands for quick reaction alert missions, and offer two for sale to interested parties.
The large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine has stirred successive British governments to more defense spending. However, military procurement programs often take years to have an effect on the battlefield.
About the Author: Stavros Atlamazoglou
Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.
Image: Shutterstock / AMMHPhotography.