Unveiling the UK’s plan: 27 new F‑35B fighters boost defense
2:27 PM EDT, June 21, 2024
The United Kingdom plans to finalize a deal to purchase 27 fifth-generation F-35B Lightning II fighters this summer. This announcement was made by James Cartlidge, Secretary of State in the British Ministry of Defense. This is good news for the British Air Force and Navy, which share a fleet of these aircraft. Until now, they had to rely on the promise of only 48 fighters ordered a few years ago, of which 33 have already been delivered.
Originally, the United Kingdom planned to purchase a total of 138 F-35Bs to replace the now-retired Tornado strike aircraft. However, numerous changes in British governments in recent years have led to continuous revisions of these plans. As it stands today, the final number of the British F-35B fleet remains uncertain. The needs are significant. Besides the necessity of equipping two aircraft carriers with planes, the Royal Air Force also has its requirements. Currently, the number of aircraft is insufficient for completing all the missions set for the air force. This will remain the case even after all the planes from the first contract have been delivered.
British Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers are designed to carry about 30 F-35Bs each, and they have already gone to sea simultaneously. This means that to fully equip just the aircraft carriers, approximately 60 aircraft are needed, ideally more, to account for training on land and reserves for overhauls or failures. The F-35 is known for its frequent maintenance issues. Then there are the air force's needs. Therefore, the announcement of the purchase of an additional 27 units, which will allow the formation of a third squadron armed with F-35Bs, is met with enthusiasm from aviators. If the contract is indeed signed in the next few weeks, aircraft deliveries should be completed by the end of this decade.
The current government has resurrected the idea of purchasing a total of 138 F-35s, potentially by the middle or end of the next decade. It is not yet known which versions of the aircraft will be ordered in the future. Years ago, when the configuration of the British F-35 fleet was decided, two concepts clashed: one called for the purchase of conventional F-35As for the air force and F-35Bs with short takeoff and vertical landing capabilities for the navy. The other proposed buying only F-35Bs to achieve full interchangeability of aircraft between the air force and the navy. Ultimately, the second concept prevailed, but changes may occur in the future. The F-35B can operate from aircraft carriers but carries less armament and has a shorter range than the F-35A. Additionally, the land-based version of the fighter is significantly cheaper.
Ordering an additional 27, and ultimately acquiring a total of 138 F-35s by the United Kingdom, may negatively impact the British-Italian-Japanese program to build the next-generation GCAP fighter. Each of these countries intends to acquire a significant fleet of F-35s in various variants. However, the costs associated with such purchases may turn out to be so high that they will not be able to afford a sufficiently large number of GCAP fighters. Based on the available numbers and plans for F-35 purchases in the three countries, it can be estimated that GCAP production will not exceed 400 units, with a more probable number being about 350 units.
If the production scale is small, the unit costs of each next-generation fighter will be enormous. Therefore, the result of the GCAP program might be a much simpler aircraft with fewer capabilities than the French-German-Spanish competitor NGF. This approach would significantly lower the price and allow the new aircraft to enter service much faster. Time is also a factor suggesting that the GCAP may be simpler than the NGF. Current schedules indicate that GCAP production is expected to start around 2035, while NGF production is slated to begin five years later.
Besides the considerations about fighter jets, the United Kingdom is also working on developing various types of unmanned aircraft to operate from aircraft carriers. In addition to developing the drones themselves, this will require modifications to both aircraft carriers, particularly the installation of catapults and arrestor cables (brake lines).
Drones of various types and sizes may take over early warning tasks from the AW101 helicopters, reconnaissance, and target acquisition missions, and even anti-submarine and surface ship tasks. Additionally, there should, of course, be fighter drones working directly with the F-35s. The option of introducing unmanned aerial tankers is also being considered. This program is being carried out under the codename "Ark Royal," referring to the famous aircraft carriers in Royal Navy history.
