UK to Join NATO Nuclear Mission With U.S.-Made F-35A Fighter Jets

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced at the NATO summit in The Hague that Britain will purchase 12 U.S.-made F-35A fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear weapons, joining NATO’s airborne nuclear mission. Starmer stated, “We will procure at least 12 and we will make these aircraft able to bear nuclear weapons if necessary,” citing a “growing nuclear threat.” Downing Street hailed the move as “the biggest strengthening of the UK’s nuclear posture in a generation.” The jets, to be based at RAF Marham in Norfolk, will support 20,000 jobs and over 100 UK companies, including BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce, in the F-35 supply chain.

The F-35A jets, unlike the shorter-range F-35B variant used by the RAF and Royal Navy for carrier operations, offer longer range and can carry a wider array of conventional and nuclear weapons, including U.S.-provided B61 bombs. NATO’s nuclear mission involves allied aircraft delivering these bombs, with deployment requiring approval from NATO’s nuclear planning group, the U.S. president, and the UK prime minister. Justin Bronk of the Royal United Services Institute noted, “The U.S. would still control their release and use in the event of a war,” sparking debate over UK reliance on American authorization. In Parliament, Conservative MP Lincoln Jopp questioned whether a dual-key system exists, to which Border Security Minister Dame Angela Eagle replied, “The UK will also always retain the right to participate, or not to participate, on the basis of that governance arrangement.”

Starmer emphasized, “In an era of radical uncertainty we can no longer take peace for granted, which is why my government is investing in our national security.” Defence Secretary John Healey added, “The Strategic Defence Review confirmed we face new nuclear risks, with other states increasing, modernising and diversifying their nuclear arsenals.” Healey told BBC Breakfast the jets would “strengthen the NATO-collective deterrent.” NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte praised the decision as “yet another robust British contribution to NATO.”

The purchase follows a national security strategy released on June 24, warning of potential wartime threats to the UK homeland. Starmer pledged to meet NATO’s 5% GDP defense spending target by 2035, with 3.5% for core defense. The RAF, which retired its nuclear-capable WE177 bombs in 1998, will need time to rebuild expertise, per Bronk, who noted the jets’ conventional capabilities as a key benefit. The decision aligns with heightened global tensions, including Russia’s nuclear rhetoric and the recent Israel-Iran war, underscoring NATO’s focus on deterrence.