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The UK\u2019s <\/a>military procurement body, Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S)<\/a>, announced on 27 March that it has accepted delivery of its 48th short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL)-configured F-35B Lightning II<\/a> fifth-generation multi-role fighter from Lockheed Martin<\/a>. <\/p>\n This latest delivery marks a key milestone for the UK Lightning Force (UKLF)<\/a>, which has now received all of its first batch of F-35Bs.<\/p>\n The arrival of this final Tranche 1 jet grows the UK\u2019s current inventory of F-35Bs to 47 aircraft. One airframe (serial ZM152\/\u2018018\u2019) was written off after it plunged into the Mediterranean Sea while attempting to take off from the Royal Navy\u2019s<\/a> flagship aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08)<\/a>, during the warship\u2019s maiden international deployment in November 2021. \u00a0<\/p>\n This latest handover follows a string of recent deliveries that have seen the UK\u2019s newest F-35Bs handed over complete with the jet\u2019s long-delayed Technology Refresh 3 (TR-3)<\/a> update package \u2013 a major hardware\/software upgrade that will serve as a key enabler for the fifth-generation fighter\u2019s highly anticipated Block 4 capability enhancements. <\/p>\n While the aircraft have been delivered equipped with the TR-3 update, the upgrade package has yet to be approved for combat use.<\/p>\n Under the UKLF, the British F-35B fleet is operated as a joint force by the Royal Air Force (RAF)<\/a> and Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm (FAA)<\/a> in a similar manner to how the UK\u2019s former Joint Force Harrier fleet was employed before it was controversially withdrawn from use in December 2010.<\/p>\n The UKLF is headquartered at RAF Marham<\/a> in Norfolk and is composed of three different operational squadrons. Its frontline units comprise the RAF\u2019s famed No 617 Squadron \u2018The Dambusters\u2019 and FAA\u2019s 809 Naval Air Squadron \u2018Immortals\u2019, while the former\u2019s No 207 Squadron serves as the fleet\u2019s Operational Conversion Unit (OCU). <\/p>\n While crews are assigned to specific frontline units, the British F-35B fleet is pooled as a mixed fighting force, meaning that no one squadron has dedicated aircraft assigned to it.<\/p>\n What are the next steps in the UK\u2019s F-35B procurement plan?<\/p>\n While the UK has now welcomed its 48th and final F-35B of its initial Tranche 1 procurement batch, London is expected to place a follow-on order for more examples of the fifth-generation fighter in the near future. <\/p>\n The UK \u2013 which remains to be Washington\u2019s sole Tier 1 partner in the US<\/a>-led Joint Strike Fighter (JSF)<\/a> programme \u2013 still maintains a programme of record that calls for the eventual procurement of 138 F-35Bs. <\/p>\n The nation\u2019s F-35B procurement plans have become something of a political flashpoint in recent years, with many speculating that the UK will cut its total Lightning II order.<\/p>\n However, as per current plans, the UK remains committed to acquiring 138 aircraft, although it now seems that they may not all be examples of the STOVL-capable F-35B, but a mixed fleet that includes the conventional take-off and landing (CTOL)-configured F-35A. <\/p>\n Published by the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD)<\/a> in June 2025, the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) announced its plan to acquire 12 F-35As for RAF use<\/a>.<\/p>\n The procurement of these jets comes as the UK moves to reestablish the RAF\u2019s ability to deliver airborne nuclear weapons under NATO\u2019s <\/a>nuclear-sharing deterrence initiative \u2013 a capability that Britain lost when it fully transitioned to a solely submarine-based nuclear deterrent in the late 1990s.<\/p>\n Details regarding the UK\u2019s purchase of a second tranche of F-35Bs are expected to be formally confirmed in the MOD\u2019s long-delayed Defence Investment Plan (DIP), for which a publication date has yet to be announced. The DIP will outline London\u2019s defence spending plans for the next decade.<\/p>\n As per current plans, the UK is expected to purchase 27 Lightning IIs as part of its second procurement batch before the end of this decade. While this was initially thought to solely comprise the STOVL-configured F-35B, the recently announced plan to acquire 12 F-35As for the nuclear role may see this evolve into a split purchase, with 15 F-35Bs and 12 F-35As being procured in total.<\/p>\n RAF F-35Bs: Defending allies in the Middle East<\/p>\n In recent weeks, eight British F-35Bs and crews from No 617 Squadron have been deployed to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus <\/a>\u2013 alongside a number of Typhoon FGR4s<\/a> \u2013 to perform air defence<\/a> operations over the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East regions. <\/p>\n From Akrotiri, the jets have been employed to counter swarms of Iranian <\/a>one-way attack drones and ballistic\/cruise missiles that have been launched against its neighbours in the Gulf amid the US and Israel\u2019s <\/a>ongoing offensive with Tehran.<\/p>\n These aircraft and their crews have been involved in flying defensive missions across the region since late-February. Such activities have seen crews from the UKLF successfully score their first air-to-air engagements against Iranian one-way attack drones. <\/p>\n![\"Royal](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Royal-Air-Force-RAF-F-35B-1024x683.jpg\")
Image: MOD Crown Copyright<\/p>\n![\"Royal](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/UK-RAF-F-35-1024x683.jpg\")
Image: MOD Crown Copyright<\/p>\n![\"Royal](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Royal-Navy-F-35B-on-an-aircraft-carrier-1024x683.jpg\")
Image: MOD Crown Copyright\/Royal Navy<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/38GpPO-OFFICIAL-20200205-030-0588-1024x683.jpg\")
Image: MOD Crown Copyright<\/p>\n![\"One](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/UKLF-F-35B-at-RAF-Akrotiri-during-Iran-conflict-10-03-26-MOD-CC-AS1-Leah-Jones-1024x576.jpg\")
One of the eight British F-35Bs that have been deployed to support air defence operations over the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East regions is seen on the ground at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus on 10 March 2026. Image: MOD Crown Copyright\/AS1 Leah Jones<\/p>\n