The UK could reportedly purchase only half of the 138 F-35B Lightning II fighter jets that the country has planned to buy over the course of the programme, according to The Times.
Sources close to the UK Government’s defence review were quoted by the publication as saying that the plans are “unlikely to be fulfilled”.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
The F-35 short take-off and vertical landing variant is being purchased for the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Royal Navy.
The jets will operate from the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.
The UK will procure 48 jets at a total value of £9.1bn by the end of 2025.
In May this year, US Republican senators were reportedly seeking to deter the stationing of 48 F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter aircraft in the UK.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalDataIn a separate development, Korea has planned to increase the number of F-35 stealth fighter jets it has planned to procure, reported Korea JoongAng Daily quoting military sources.
Korea will acquire 40 F-35 jets, built by Lockheed Martin, for around KRW8tn ($6.7bn).
Earlier this month, US Air Force (USAF) 356th Fighter Squadron (FS) and 388th Fighter Wing’s (FW) F-35A Lightning II aircraft participated in the Red Flag-Alaska (RF-A) exercise in the Alaskan skies.
In July, USAF Eielson Air Force Base (AFB) in Alaska accepted the delivery of three new F-35A Lightning II jets.
In December last year, USAF’s Hill Air Force Base (AFB) in Utah received its final F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft.
