F35A jets boost to Lancashire

The UK is to buy 12 F35A fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear bombs in a boost to Lancashire’s BAE Systems Air Sector and its supply chain across the county.

The announcement was made by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at this week’s NATO summit in The Hague.

The new planes will be an upgrade on existing plans to buy 138 F35B ‘Lightning II’ jets some of which are already in service with the RAF.

The order will help secure the 1,800 jobs at BAE Systems Air Sectors Lancashire factories, principally at Samlesbury where they make the rear sections of the advanced jets for main contractor US firm Lockheed Martin as well as boosting the firm’s smaller aerospace suppliers across the east if the county.

The dual purpose F35As can carry conventional weapons but can also be equipped with nuclear bombs and have a longer range.

The new planes will replace proposals to buy 12 F35B short landing and take off jets in the next phase of the purchasing programme.

The government said the decision will support 20,000 jobs in the F35 programme in the UK, with 15 per cent of the global supply chain for the jets based in Britain.

The new fast jets will be based at RAF Marham, with the Ministry of Defence still expected to procure 138 F35s over the lifetime of the programme.

The purchase of 12 F-35As rather than 12 F-35Bs as part of the next procurement package will deliver a saving of up to 25 per cent per aircraft for the taxpayer.

It represents the biggest strengthening of the UK’s nuclear posture in a generation and reintroduces a nuclear role for the RAF for the first time since the UK retired its sovereign air-launched nuclear weapons following the end of the Cold War.

The F35As would be equipped with American B61 bombs stockpiled in Europe and under US control as part of NATO’s wider nuclear defence and deterrence mission.

Sir Keir said: “In an era of radical uncertainty, we can no longer take peace for granted, which is why my government is investing in our national security, ensuring our armed forces have the equipment they need and communities up and down the country reap the benefits from our defence dividend.

“Supporting 100 businesses across the country and more than 20,000 jobs, these F35 dual capable aircraft will herald a new era for our world-leading Royal Air Force and deter hostile threats that threaten the UK and our Allies.

“The UK’s commitment to NATO is unquestionable, as is the Alliance’s contribution to keeping the UK safe and secure, but we must all step up to protect the Euro-Atlantic area for generations to come.”

The decision represents a victory for the Royal Air Force, which has long pushed for a return of its nuclear capabilities since the last British air-dropped nuclear weapon was withdrawn from service after the end of the Cold War.

Since then, the UK’s nuclear deterrent has been carried exclusively by the Royal Navy’s submarines.

But Sharon Graham general secretary of the Unite union said the government should be focusing on replacing existing fighter planes with new Typhoons, manufactured by BAE Systems using Rolls Royce engines.

She said: “Government ministers need to stop dancing around their handbags and announce that we will be purchasing new T5 Typhoons.

“Tens of thousands of highly skilled UK defence jobs as well as our national security are reliant on that decision.

“In contrast, the UK jobs benefit from new F35 orders is negligible and it doesn’t help when government repeats highly exaggerated claims about that.”