Keir Starmer has said that the UK will buy at least 12 F35A fighter jets, capable of firing both nukes and conventional weapons, as the country bolsters its nuclear deterrent
Britain will buy fighter jets capable of firing nuclear missiles for the first time since the Cold War as the public were told to “actively prepare” for war on home soil.
In the major bolstering of the UK’s nuclear deterrent, Keir Starmer said Britain will purchase at least 12 F35A fighter jets, capable of firing both nukes and conventional weapons. The new fighter jets will be armed with American B61 gravity bombs. Britain is the only major nuclear power that has just one platform to unleash its arsenal – the Trident submarines which provide the continuous at-sea deterrent. France has both air and sea capability, while the US can launch nukes from air, land and sea.
The Government warned the public today that they must “actively prepare” for war on British soil “for the first time in many years”. The long-awaited National Security Strategy said tackling the danger of nuclear weapons will be “more complex than it was even in the Cold War”. Major powers like China and Russia are seeking to gain an upper hand in “outer space, cyberspace, the deep sea, and at the Arctic and Antarctic poles”, it said.
And the report also warned that hostile states may join forces with terror groups and criminals to carry out attacks on these shores. It states: “For the first time in many years, we have to actively prepare for the possibility of the UK homeland coming under direct threat, potentially in a wartime scenario.”
The document said the years ahead will test the nation – with a World War Two-style spirit needed to deal with growing threats. The Prime Minister revealed plans to bolster Britain’s nuclear capabilities as he arrived in the Netherlands on Tuesday for a high-stakes NATO summit.
He joined members of the 32-strog Western defensive alliance in committing to hike defence and security spending up to 5% by 2035. The UK will buy American-made fast jets, which will be based at RAF Marham, in Norfolk, and will deploy them as part of NATO’s nuclear mission.
The Government expected to procure 138 F35s over the lifetime of the programme. Unveiling the plans, the PM said: “In an era of radical uncertainty we can no longer take peace for granted, which is why my government is investing in our national security, ensuring our Armed Forces have the equipment they need and communities up and down the country reap the benefits from our defence dividend.
“Supporting 100 businesses across the country and more than 20,000 jobs, these F35 dual capable aircraft will herald a new era for our world-leading Royal Air Force and deter hostile threats that threaten the UK and our Allies.
“The UK’s commitment to NATO is unquestionable, as is the Alliance’s contribution to keeping the UK safe and secure, but we must all step up to protect the Euro-Atlantic area for generations to come.”
Defence Secretary John Healey said: “The Strategic Defence Review confirmed we face new nuclear risks, with other states increasing, modernising and diversifying their nuclear arsenals. And it recommended a new UK role in our collective defence and deterrence through a NATO-first approach.
“This commitment is an embodiment of NATO first, strengthening the alliance while at the same time using defence as an engine for growth to create jobs across the UK.”
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said: “The UK has declared its nuclear deterrent to NATO for many decades, and I strongly welcome today’s announcement that the UK will now also join NATO’s nuclear mission and procure the F-35A. This is yet another robust British contribution to NATO”.
The National Security Strategy yesterday(TUES) laid bare the threats facing this country in a more dangerous world. Warning of hostile states acting within the UK, Mr Starmer said the country is in a period of “radical uncertainty”.
He has pledged to spend 5% of GDP on national security within a decade – a move the strategy says will draw together civilian and military priorities “in a way not seen since 1945”.
The document said: “The years ahead will test the United Kingdom… The direction it takes – and the decisions we take – will reverberate through the decades. We will need agility and courage to succeed, but we should be optimistic. We remain a resolute country, rich in history, values and in our capabilities.
“But most of all, there is the determination of the British people themselves. After all, we do not need to look too far into our history for an example of a whole-of-society effort, motivated by a collective will to keep each other safe. We can mobilise that spirit again and use it both for our national security and the rebuilding of our country.”
The wide-ranging dossier said AI, social media and attacks on key infrastructure pose growing threats in the coming years. It warned arms control measures had failed to keep up with the spread of nuclear weapons – highlighted by alarm over Iran’s nuclear weapons programme.
The UK is “directly threatened” by hostile activities including assassination, intimidation, espionage, sabotage, cyber attacks and other forms of democratic interference, it added. Critical national infrastructure such as undersea cables, energy pipelines, transportation and logistics hubs are also a target.
“It may become more difficult to identify hostile state activity as they make use of terrorist and criminal groups as their proxies,” the report stated. Referencing North Korea’s support for Russian forces in Ukraine, the strategy said hostile nations are more willing to work together.
“As our adversaries and competitors engage in further military modernisation, issues like technology transfer and sanctions enforcement are going to become increasingly important,” the strategy states. Speaking in the Commons, Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden said the Government needs to be “clear-eyed and hard-edged”.
Mr McFadden said ministers would work on protecting security at home by bolstering borders and making the UK “more resilient to future threats”. He said more would need to be done with international allies to defend collective security – especially in the UK’s relations with major powers like China.
The strategy warned that “instances of China’s espionage, interference in our democracy and the undermining of our economic security have increased in recent years”. Mr McFadden also set out the UK’s priority to rebuild its defence industries and build “advantages in new frontier technologies” like AI. “All of this will make us a stronger and more resilient country,” he added.