UK's F-35 Stealth Fighters Ready for Deployment

The UK’s F-35 Lightning stealth fighter jets are ready to be deployed on operations for the first time, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has announced.

There are nine F-35s readyto be deployed on operations across the world. The F-35 Lightnings will form the backbone of the UK’s combat air fleet alongside the Typhoon jets which have been upgraded with a new weapons system, Williamson said at the RAF Marham base Thursday.

The Defence Secretary made the announcement in front of four different aircraft, in a brand-new maintenance hangar at RAF Marham, which he opened today along with a new training centre.

In addition to the Typhoon and F-35, the Tempest concept fighter jet model was also on show.

These facilities, along with resurfaced runways and new landing pads to accommodate the jet’s ability to land vertically, are a key part of the £550m being invested in the Norfolk base.

The Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier said, “the successful integration of Stormshadow, Brimstone and Meteor on Typhoon completes and enhances the transition of world-class capabilities from Tornado and allows a stalwart of the RAF’s Combat Air inventory to retire from service”.