The UK’s F-35 stealth fighter capability

The F-35 is a fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft, which is able to enter contested environments undetected. As part of a US-led programme, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) purchased and is using the F-35b variant, which can operate from land and aircraft carriers. The UK publicly committed to purchasing 138 F-35 aircraft from the global F-35 … Show more

The F-35 is a fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft, which is able to enter contested environments undetected. As part of a US-led programme, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) purchased and is using the F-35b variant, which can operate from land and aircraft carriers. The UK publicly committed to purchasing 138 F-35 aircraft from the global F-35 programme in 2006, and currently expects to have received 48 aircraft by the end of 2025. Of the eight international partners under US-led global programme, the UK has the biggest commitment to the F-35 outside of the US’ own services. The MoD estimates that the F-35 fleet will cost more than £18bn over its life. The PAC reported in June 2025 that defence scrutiny was being obstructed, with the unacceptable continuing lack of a Equipment Plan meaning that the public still lacked a reliable assessment of whether government’s defence spending plans were affordable. The PAC found in 2021 that the defence procurement system was “broken,” following which the MoD created the new role of National Armaments Director (NAD) as part of the biggest reforms in fifty years. In June 2025, the PAC led a House of Commons debate on the NAD’s remit. The National Audit Office (NAO) reports in 2025 on the UK’s F-35 aircraft programme, examining whether the MoD is delivering its F-35 capability aims in a way which maximises value for money. Following the NAO’s report, the PAC will take evidence from senior MoD officials and military leaders on subjects including current and future programme costs, MoD’s management of the UK’s participation in the global programme, and the resources in place to support the UK’s F-35 capability. As part of the session, the Committee will also question officials from the Ministry of Defence about the Afghanistan Response Route (ARR) and associated data breaches. The ARR was set up by the MoD to mitigate the security risks arising from a data protection breach and the unauthorised disclosure of personal information about Afghan citizens which occurred in February 2022. The National Audit Office (NAO) has published a report on the Afghanistan Response Route (ARR) to support the Committee’s scrutiny. If you have evidence on these issues, please submit it here by 23:59 on Monday 25 August 2025. Please look at the requirements for written evidence submissions and note that the Committee cannot accept material as evidence that is published elsewhere. You can request anonymity or confidentiality when you send evidence, but it is the Committee which decides what information to publish and how. It may treat submissions confidentially, even where you have not requested this. Please note that the Committee’s inquiry cannot assist with individual cases. If you need help with an individual problem you are having, you may wish to read the information on Parliament’s website about who you can contact with different issues . Show less