UK To Get First Four F-35 Stealth Fighters By 2016

Britain announced Monday that it has signed a contract with Lockheed Martin to buy its first four of 14 F-35B combat aircrafts.

The aircrafts are expected to be delivered in 2016 and will be in service by 2018.

The aircrafts will operate from the new aircraft carriers and from the royal air force land bases. The next 10 aircrafts will be ordered in the next five years.

“The investment we are making in the F-35 aircraft will ensure we are securing the skies for decades to come, providing the UK with the latest stealth technology and multi-role aircraft capability,” said Philip Dunne, minister for defense equipment support and technology.

The fighters are probably from the recently approved lot-8 LRIP contract Lockheed won. F-35 fighter jets feature a short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) technology and features stealth and intelligence surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) technology.