UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has commissioned detailed reports on the country’s defense projects and platform acquisitions. The Telegraph published an article titled “Why Might the UK Scrap the F-35s?” questioning whether these Lockheed Martin aircraft are truly necessary for London.
Shift Towards the Tempest Project
The UK, along with Italy and Japan, is pursuing the Tempest project, which aims to develop a 6th-generation fighter jet. Redirecting resources to this project implies the development of an aircraft much more capable than the F-35. Critics suggest that the UK might attempt to halt F-35 purchases to save on the defense budget. They argue that the Tempest program would be a politically more challenging decision than cutting F-35 acquisitions.
The F-35 jets, assembled by Lockheed Martin in the US, have been plagued by repeated delays and cost overruns. The UK Ministry of Defence has struggled to provide clear answers on how many F-35s the country will purchase and which branch of the military will operate them. Critics argue that the lack of sovereignty over the F-35s is a problem for the UK. Independent defense analyst Francis Tusa emphasizes that the lack of direct control over the F-35s is a disadvantage, and the Tempest could address this issue.
The Most Expensive Weapons Program in History
The F-35 program, which began in the 1980s, is known as the most expensive weapons program in history. According to the Pentagon, the program’s estimated cost to the US is expected to exceed $2 trillion by 2088. The UK joined the program in 1995, and the Ministry of Defence selected the F-35B variant for the Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier. This variant has a more limited range and payload capacity than others.
Target: 138 F-35B Fighter Jets
In 2015, the government announced its goal to purchase a total of 138 F-35Bs, but it has been reluctant to reaffirm this commitment since then. So far, 34 aircraft have been delivered, with only 48 firmly ordered for delivery by 2025. The F-35 has faced heavy criticism in the UK due to its high operating costs and lack of sovereignty.
Views of James Cartlidge
James Cartlidge, former defense procurement minister and currently shadow defense secretary, believes it is a false dichotomy to see Tempest and the F-35 as opposing choices. Cartlidge suggests that a Labour government might cancel F-35 orders to address defense budget issues. In such a scenario, the UK could both order F-35s and invest in the Tempest.
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