Commitment to F-35 reaffirmed by governments but questions raised over timeline

Fahad Redha

April 23, 2026
3 min read

Commitment to F-35 reaffirmed by governments but questions raised over timeline

The UK government has reiterated its commitment to acquire 138 F-35 Lightning airplanes over the programme’s life, but questions have been raised over the aircrafts. A series of parliamentary answers have raised questions over what the figure means in practice, UK Defence Journal reports.

On 21^st April, Minister of State Luke Pollard was asked about the UK’s commitment to the total order of 138 aircraft, confirming that the position of the MoD has not changed. But a separate question a day before about whether the UK plans to use future tranches to replace jets in current service saw a “notably vaguer response,” the Journal writes.

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“Decisions will be taken across the life of the programme,” Pollard replied, pointing to the delayed Defence Investment Plan to take the commitment to the planes forward.

Referring to the “life of the programme” leaves open the possibility of a cumulative purchase of the 138 F-35 planes spread over decades as opposed to a simultaneous operational fleet. That would mean lower-rate production aircraft being slowly retired and replaced by newer ones.

Baroness Goldie asked a question in March that saw a similar response from Lord Coaker, confirming that 48 F-35B aircraft had been ordered and delivered, adding that future orders and delivery schedules would be subject to the Defence Investment Plan. The plan was originally scheduled to be published in the autumn, but no date has been announced for its release.

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About Author

Fahad Redha

Fahad is the Content Editor at EyeOnLondon, overseeing the publication’s editorial output across news, culture, and lifestyle. With a background in journalism from the University of the Creative Arts, he brings a broad range of experience from local London reporting in Kensington & Chelsea, where he held roles including motoring, events, and health editor. At EyeOnLondon, Fahad plays a central role in shaping content and maintaining editorial standards. His work spans everything from daily news to feature coverage, with a particular strength in motoring and events. He also incorporates photography into his reporting, adding a visual layer to many of his stories. Fahad joined EyeOnLondon in February 2021.