Every F-35 Brings Value to the UK Economy
Every time an F-35 takes flight anywhere in the world, the UK is part of the mission. As one of the original partners in the F-35 Lightning II programme, the UK plays a vital role in delivering the world’s most advanced fighter jet.
And while the F-35 Lightning II now provides game-changing 5th Generation capability to the UK Armed Forces, our legacy was forged more than eight decades ago when RAF pilots took to the skies in the Lockheed Hudson and Martin Marauder.
More than 100 Tier 1 British suppliers contribute to every F-35 produced, including BAE Systems, Rolls Royce and Martin Baker, which provide key components. The F-35 brings 5th Generation expertise to the UK, sustaining more than 20,000+ jobs across every region of the UK at the programme’s peak in the 2030s. By 2046, the F-35 programme is projected to generate £45.2 billion in economic value for the UK.
Capability Today. Deterrence for the Future.
The F-35 provides the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy with 5th Generation capability to execute complex missions worldwide and deliver interoperability with NATO and allied forces.
In June 2025, the UK government announced its intent to procure F-35As as part of its program of record. Offering increased range and payload, the F-35A expands capability for the UK, strengthens support of critical NATO missions, and complements the existing F-35Bs already in service.
As the backbone of modern deterrence, the F-35 ensures the UK maintains a strategic advantage for decades to come.
UK F-35 FAQ
A: The fingerprints of British ingenuity are all over the F-35. Components including the ejection seat, aft fuselage, the life support system, and much more are built by British companies including BAE Systems in Samlesbury, Rolls-Royce in Derby and Survitec in Ellesmere Port.
As a result, the F-35 programme has an enormous, positive impact in terms of jobs and economic value across every region of the UK. At its peak in the 2030s, the F-35 programme will sustain more than 20,000 high-value jobs for British workers and will contribute a Gross Value Add of £45.2 billion to the UK economy up to 2046, with more projected to continue well beyond that date as new nations join the programme.
A: The UK currently operates the F-35B variant as the backbone of its Carrier Strike Capability. Operationally, they fly off the two Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers —HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales — and are based at RAF Marham in Norfolk.
The F-35 is operated by the Royal Air Force’s 617 Squadron ‘Dambusters’ and the 207 Squadron both based at Marham, Norfolk, and the XVII Test & Evaluation Squadron based at Edwards Air Force Base, California, U.S. F-35s are also operated by the 809 Naval Air Squadron ‘The Immortals’ based at Marham, Norfolk.
Program Milestones
