The UK is set to acquire 12 F-35A fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear weapons, and it’s clear that this purchase is focused on that specific capability.
“This acquisition marks the most significant enhancement of the UK’s nuclear stance in a generation,” stated the office of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Tuesday evening.
The decision will restore the Royal Air Force’s ability to conduct nuclear strikes — a capability retired in 1998 when the UK withdrew its air-dropped nuclear bomb from service. Since then, the UK's only means of delivering a nuclear attack has been through its Vanguard-class submarines. In contrast, every other nuclear-armed nation operates at least two of the three conventional delivery methods: by air, land, or sea. Nations such as the US, Russia, and China maintain all three legs of the so-called nuclear triad.
UK Restores Nuclear Airpower as Part of Strategic Defense Shift Amid Global Uncertainty
In the statement, Starmer emphasized that his government is re-establishing the air-based leg of the UK’s nuclear deterrent in response to growing global instability.
“We are entering an era of radical uncertainty. The UK’s commitment to NATO is unwavering, as is the Alliance’s role in keeping us safe and secure. But we must all step up to protect the Euro-Atlantic area for generations to come,” he said.
The 12 new aircraft will be based at RAF Marham in eastern England. They are part of the next batch in the UK’s planned order of 138 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters.
Currently, British forces operate around three dozen F-35Bs — a variant designed for short takeoffs and vertical landings. However, only the F-35A — the standard variant — has been certified to carry nuclear weapons.
In March 2024, the F-35A was certified to carry the B61-12, an American 800-pound nuclear gravity bomb. The B61-12 lacks a propulsion system and is designed to be dropped from above.
Rising Tensions and Expanding Arsenals Signal a New Global Nuclear Era
Meanwhile, concerns over a new nuclear arms race continue to grow globally. While the UK and France maintain independent nuclear programs, much of Western Europe’s nuclear deterrence depends on the US, which has stationed American nuclear weapons across the continent.
NATO has also been encouraging member states to expand their fleets of dual-capable aircraft — jets that can carry both conventional and nuclear weapons — as geopolitical tensions rise.
The UK has an estimated 225 nuclear warheads and has announced plans to increase its stockpile to 260. It is also developing the Dreadnought-class submarine to eventually replace its current fleet of four Vanguard-class nuclear submarines.
Observers warn that the world’s three major nuclear powers — the US, Russia, and China — are expanding or modernizing their arsenals. China, in particular, is reportedly building up its stockpile by around 100 warheads per year and may reach 1,550 by 2035, matching the US-Russia arms limit under existing treaties.