Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 6
6
Rejected
Update committee on whole-life costs and preparation time for F-35A Dual Capable Aircraft.
Conclusion
The Department has not set out its preferred mix of F-35As and Bs, nor forecast the costs of introducing the F-35As in their nuclear weapons role. The 48 aircraft that the Department has contracted for so far are all F-35Bs, which can be flown from land or aircraft carriers. In June 2025 the Department announced that in its next phase of procurement it intended to buy 12 F-35As alongside 15 F-35Bs. The Department told us that the F35As would both act as training aircraft, where its additional range will be valuable in enabling longer training flights, and join the NATO dual capable aircraft nuclear mission. Only the F-35A variant can carry nuclear weapons. The Department acknowledged that becoming certified for the NATO nuclear mission will add new requirements to training, personnel and possibly infrastructure. The Department is speaking to other nations in the NATO mission about requirements for certification. This work is at an early stage and the Department did not provide any indication of forecast costs. recommendation The Department should update the committee in six months on what it expects the additional whole-life costs of operating Dual Capable Aircraft will be, and how long it will take to prepare the necessary arrangements. 5 1 F-35 capability requirements Introduction
Government Response Summary
The government rejected the recommendation to provide an update on additional whole-life costs and timescales for operating Dual Capable Aircraft, stating that this information is classified Secret but offered a classified briefing to the Committee.
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
The government disagrees with the Committee’s recommendation Costs and timescales associated with the UK's Dual Capable Aircraft nuclear mission are classified Secret. Subject to the necessary clearances and following the Defence Investment Plan publication, a briefing to the Committee at Secret can be arranged to offer more detail on the departmental approach to the NATO nuclear mission.