Britain is set to reintroduce fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear weapons to bolster NATO’s nuclear mission, broadening its deterrence capabilities beyond its current reliance on submarine-launched missiles, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office announced on Tuesday.
The UK will acquire 12 nuclear-capable F-35A fighter jets in what Downing Street described as “the biggest enhancement of the UK’s nuclear posture in a generation.” Starmer is expected to formally unveil the plan at the NATO summit on Wednesday.
Since the Cold War, Britain’s nuclear deterrent within NATO has been exclusively provided by submarine-launched missiles. At the time, “tactical nuclear weapons were no longer a priority in Europe, as the perceived threat had diminished,” noted Heloise Fayet, a nuclear expert at the French Institute of International Relations (Ifri).
Fayet remarked that the announcement reflects “the re-nuclearization of Europe, a renewed dependence on nuclear deterrence, and NATO’s reinforced posture in response to Russia,” which has been engaged in conflict with Ukraine for the past three years.
The F-35A, produced by US defense company Lockheed Martin, is a variant of the F-35B already in service with the UK but uniquely equipped to carry nuclear warheads alongside conventional arms. The Royal Air Force has long advocated for this capability, and the new aircraft will be stationed at Marham Air Force Base in eastern England.
