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The UK will buy 12 F-35A fighter planes that can carry nuclear warheads in the biggest strengthening of the country’s nuclear deterrent for a generation, the British government has said.
The move, which was announced to coincide with the NATO summit in the Netherlands, will give Britain’s Royal Air Force a role in the UK’s nuclear programme for the first time since the 1990s, when defence cuts were made following the end of the Cold War.
Currently, the country’s nuclear deterrent is limited to a fleet of four nuclear-armed submarines.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer explained that the decision to purchase the US-built warplanes was both a boost to the country’s national security and a sign of its commitment to NATO at a time of “rising nuclear risks”.
“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,” Starmer said.
“The UK’s commitment to NATO is unquestionable, as is the alliance’s contribution to keeping the UK safe and secure, but we must all step up to protect the Euro-Atlantic area for generations to come,” he added.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte “strongly” welcomed the announcement. “This is yet another robust British contribution to NATO,” he said.
It is not immediately clear when the UK will purchase the jets, which will allow the UK to contribute to NATO’s dual-capable aircraft (DCA) capability.
Only a small number of NATO members, including Belgium and Germany, currently have the required jets and training to carry US-provided nuclear weapons.
Britain’s decision to bolster its air force comes as part of a European drive to increase defence spending, amid threats from Russia and concerns that the US will play a reduced role in the continent’s security.
To appease US President Donald Trump, many European countries are expected to agree to spend 5% of their GDP on defence by 2035.
However, some nations have expressed unease, with Spain calling the deadline “unreasonable”. Belgium has also indicated that it is unlikely to reach the target.
Britain’s new F-35A planes will be housed at RAF Marham, an air base in Norfolk, the UK government said.
