UK F-35A Fighters Shift From Nuclear to Training Role
Britain plans to use its new F-35A fighters mainly for pilot training, while analysts question whether the jets will ever carry US B61-12 nuclear bombs.
According to The War Zone, the British military has revised its plans for the recently ordered US-made F-35A fighter jets.
Speaking at a conference in London, Royal Air Force Director of Capability and Programs Air Vice-Marshal Jim Beck said the aircraft were not purchased for nuclear missions. Their primary role will be to support the training and retraining of British pilots.
Beck also said the planned return to a NATO-supporting nuclear role should be treated as a separate function from the acquisition of the F-35As.
In June 2025, the UK Ministry of Defence announced the purchase of 12 °F-35A fighters to supplement its existing F-35B fleet. At the time, the ministry emphasized that the new variant could carry US B61-12 nuclear bombs, strengthening Britain’s role within NATO. The focus has now shifted toward training missions.
The F-35A has a longer range and carries more fuel than the F-35B, allowing pilots to conduct longer training sorties. However, vertical takeoff procedures will have to be practiced in simulators because the F-35A lacks that capability.
Western analysts also believe Britain is unlikely to use the new aircraft as nuclear weapons carriers. The fighters are expected to be based at RAF Marham in eastern England, where underground nuclear weapons storage facilities were previously located.