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Email at:
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visit http://www.airforcesmonthly.comUncertain future of UK Lightning
A
s these words were being written,
the Queen was officially welcoming
the UK’s new aircraft carrier, HMS
Queen Elizabeth, during a ceremony at
Portsmouth Naval Base to commission it
into the Royal Navy. The backbone of the
new flagship’s air group will be provided
by the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning
II, 138 of which are to be bought.
That, at least, is the plan. Once
again, however, budget constraints
are conspiring to put that number –
committed to in the 2015 Strategic
Defence and Security Review (SDSR), and
often repeated since – under threat.
The Ministry of Defence is committed to
buying a first batch of 48 F-35s by 2025, at
a cost of $9.1bn, including infrastructure and
training. Beyond that, though, there exists the
option to reduce the order or switch at least
some of the aircraft to conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) F-35As. While the
latter option would go against the ‘jointness’
stressed by the MOD and services, it could
make sense for the Royal Air Force.
Lt Gen Mark Poffley, Deputy Chief of the
Defence Staff, told MPs on the Commons
Defence Committee on November 21 that
F-35 costs would be reviewed annually
once the jets become operational. When
asked if he expected the F-35 programme
to follow the fate of the Type 45 destroyers
(where procurement was eventually halved),
Lt Gen Poffley said he was “sympathetic”
to that idea. He also refused to rule out
a split purchase of ‘A’ and ‘B’ models.
With so many hopes pinned to the
Queen Elizabeth-class warships, it is
understandable the priority right now is to
field the promised two frontline squadrons
of F-35Bs – 24 aircraft representing the
UK’s carrier strike ambitions. Beyond that,however, Lt Gen Poffley is right to exercise
caution when saying: “I am afraid that is
the reality of the world we are living in.”
Unfortunately, other than stringing out the
Lightning II buy, the MOD doesn’t have many
options to make up its fast jet numbers.
While the additional two squadrons of RAF
Typhoons are welcome, the reality is these
will be Tranche 1 jets with little hope of
serious upgrades. Time will tell how many
UK Lightning IIs are delivered – and in what
timeframe. But it is telling that a reduction in
the 138-aircraft contingent is now officially
a possibility, as is a future mixed fleet.On sale January 18
The UK currently owns 13 F-35Bs, the latest of which, ZM147 (BK-13), made its first flight at Fort Worth, Texas on October 10, 2017. Another is due to be
delivered before the end of 2017 followed by three more in 2018. Carl Richardshttp://www.airforcesmonthly.com #358 JANUARY 2018 // 3