When will Royal Navy and RAF receive next set of F-35 fighter jets? MoD issues timeline after previous delays
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The government has set out a timeline for when the Royal Navy and RAF will receive its full compliment of fighter jets.
A total of 138 F-35 fighter jets are planned to be procured to conduct various operations around the world. They are integral to missions involving the UK Carrier Strike Group, with aviators deployed on HMS Prince of Wales making full use of them during Operation Highmast last year.
Minister for veterans and people, Louise Sandher-Jones, confirmed on November 12 that 41 aircraft have been brought into the forces. This is part of the tranche one order from the defence giant Lockheed Martin, with 48 planned to be delivered by the end of 2025.
Former First Sea Lord, Admiral Lord West of Spithead, asked the Ministry of Defence (MoD) when they expect to take delivery of 74 F-35 Lightning jests. Defence peer Lord Vernon Coaker, Labour, said the MoD will take deliver of its 75th F-35 aircraft by the end of 2033.
The UK has committed to purchasing at least 74 aircraft, with options for further buys beyond that baseline. Deliveries beyond the initial 48 aircraft are expected to carry on throughout the 2030s. The government announced on June 25, 2025, that 12 new F-35A aircraft will be purchased in an effort to bolster the UK’s nuclear deterrent. Costing an estimated £700m, these aircraft are not used on warships and will be the first time RAF pilots will operate nuclear capabilities since the 1990s.
The procurement of F-35 aircraft was put under the spotlight in November when a batch of seven F-35B aircraft were not delivered to the UK on time. A target was set for 48 F-35B jets to be brought in by the end of 2025. A financial penalty will not be placed on Lockheed Martin due to the delays.
Minister for defence readiness and industry, Luke Pollard, previously said: “The F-35 Joint Program Office orders aircraft for the F-35 Partner Nations through annual production contracts. The seven F-35B aircraft in production contract Lot 17 should have been delivered by the end of 2025. The Department anticipates four of those aircraft will slip into 2026 and be delivered by April 2026 (a three to four month delay from the original contract). There is not a financial remedy for the delivery of Lot 17 aircraft.”