UK to buy nuclear-capable F-35As that can’t be refueled from RAF tankers – Source: go.theregister.com

The UK government is to buy 12 F-35A fighters capable of carrying nuclear weapons as part of the NATO deterrent, but there’s a snag: the new jets are incompatible with the RAF’s refueling tanker aircraft.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the move at a NATO summit today, which will see the government buy “at least a dozen” of the dual-capable aircraft, meaning they can carry both nuclear and conventional weapons.

Currently, the UK has about 37 F-35B fighters, which are the version capable of short take-off and vertical landings (STOVL) in the manner of the retired Harrier. These are able to operate from the Royal Navy’s pair of aircraft carriers, and form a joint force shared between the two services.

The F-35A is a version designed for conventional take-off and landing from a runway, and is certified to carry the American B61 tactical nuclear bomb, which the F-35B is not.

It can also carry more fuel than the F-35B, which has space taken up by an internal lift fan, giving it a longer range of 1,200 miles/2,200 km compared to 900 miles/1,667 km for the “B” model.

The purchase reintroduces a nuclear role for the RAF, which during the Cold War was capable of deploying the British-designed WE 177 tactical nuke from the swing-wing Tornado jet – now also retired. “Tactical” refers to weapons intended for battlefield use.

In a statement, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the UK will deploy the new jets as part of NATO’s nuclear Dual Capable Aircraft mission, strengthening the alliance’s nuclear deterrent.

“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, ensuring our Armed Forces have the equipment they need and communities up and down the country reap the benefits from our defence dividend,” Starmer commented.

The plans have already faced criticism, as the original strategy for Britain’s F-35 fleet was that it would consist entirely of F-35B aircraft, so that any of them could be operated from the carriers if necessary. The dozen F-35As will not be capable of this.

The new jets will come as part of the next procurement package from defense firm Lockheed Martin, which will deliver 12 F-35As rather than 12 F-35Bs, according to the announcement.

We asked the MoD whether these would be part of the total 138 it originally planned to buy over the lifetime of the program, or if they were an additional 12 aircraft. However, instead of answering our questions, a spokesperson pointed us to a Parliamentary debate where Maria Eagle, Minister of State, Ministry of Defence, was speaking regarding the procurement.

Eagle also failed to answer, telling James Cartlidge MP only that the next tranche would comprise both the 12 F-35As along with another 15 F-35Bs.

“We’re hopeful these aircraft will start delivering before the end of the decade,” she said.

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In response to a later request for clarification, Eagle said: “We are committed to buying 138 F-35s. This is part of the next tranche of F-35s, and we’ve substituted 12 F-35 A for what would have been 12 F-35B, so in that sense, Mr. Speaker, this is a change to the mix.”

Another issue with this version of the F-35 is that it is not compatible with British refueling aircraft. The UK pioneered the probe-and-drogue system, whereby a tanker reels out a hose behind it, and the refueling aircraft maneuvers up so that its probe connects. The F-35A, which was designed for the US Air Force, has a receptacle on its fuselage into which the tanker delivers fuel using a rigid boom.

Eagle’s answer to this was that other NATO countries would be able to refuel the RAF’s F-35A fighters, which of course there will be absolutely no problem with during a period of crisis or conflict.

Some defense experts argue that the purchase of these 12 aircraft would at least give a boost to the RAF’s long-range strike force, but the air force itself revealed plans to use the F-35As primarily for training purposes, meaning that carrying nuclear weapons will only be a secondary role.

“Day-to-day, the F-35As will be used in a training role on 207 Squadron, the Operational Conversion Unit (OCU). As the F-35A carries more fuel than the F-35B variant, it can stay airborne for longer, extending the available training time in each sortie for student pilots,” the announcement says.

We asked the MoD if this purchase meant that the UK would be procuring the B61 nuclear bomb from the US (assuming America grants approval for transfer), or if the weapons would come from a shared NATO stockpile. However, the MoD declined to answer, nor would it answer whether there were plans for the F-35A to carry other nuclear weapons, such as a stand-off or cruise missile.

Critics have said the F-35A procurement is simply a stopgap gesture until the RAF can field its next-generation fighter, sometime in the next decade. Known in the UK by the Tempest codename, this is being developed jointly with Japan and Italy and is expected to have a much greater operational range than current British aircraft, and carry a much larger payload. ®