RAF pilots will get NUCLEAR bombers for first time in 30 years as Keir Starmer says UK must prepare for threat of war
The F-35As will be based at RAF Marham in Norfolk, which housed Britain's air-launched nuclear weapons until 1998.
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That was the year then— PM Tony Blair scrapped Britain's air-launched bomb, the WE-177.
The new B-61 bombs, made by US -firm Lockheed Martin, can take out small areas — unlike Trident 2 missiles on Britain's submarines which can obliterate whole cities.
The F-35As can also carry conventional weapons.
The announcement came as a new National Security Strategy warned: '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 Government said the jets would support Nato's nuclear mission.
Ahead of today's Nato summit in The Hague, Sir Keir 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.'
The strategy highlighted Russia's invasion of Ukraine as the most pressing example.
It added: 'Some adversaries are laying the foundations for future conflict, positioning themselves to move quickly to cause major disruption to our energy and/or supply chains, to deter us from standing up to their aggression.'
The new plan focuses on three areas — protecting the UK at home, working with allies to strengthen global security, and rebuilding Britain's defence industries and technological capabilities.
RAF planes SABOTAGED by protesters in 'grotesque' security breach at UK military base
The F-35 deal supports more than 20,000 UK jobs, with British firms making 15 per cent of the supply chain.
The UK is expected to buy 138 F-35s in total from the US government, with the A variant offering savings of up to 25 per cent per aircraft compared to the B models already in service.
Nato chief Mark Rutte called the announcement 'yet another robust British contribution to Nato'.
The UK is also building 12 new nuclear submarines, and investing £15billion in Britain's sovereign nuclear warhead programme.
Ministers yesterday also said they will send 350 air defence missiles to Ukraine using £70million from seized Russian assets.
The ASRAAMs can be fired from UK- supplied Raven launchers.
Sir Keir is facing pressure to explain how we will meet the Nato target of spending five per cent of GDP on national security by 2035.
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Prez praised
By Martina Bet
DONALD Trump was showered with praise by Nato boss Mark Rutte for the 'extraordinary' US raids on Iran, leaked messages reveal.
Mr Rutte wrote: 'Congratulations and thank you for your decisive action.
'That was truly extraordinary and something no one else dared to do. It makes us all safer.'
The former PM of the Netherlands also thanked the US President for forcing allies to promise to ramp up defence spending.
He wrote: 'Europe is going to pay in a big way, as they should, and it will be your win.'
The private text was shared by Mr Trump on his Truth Social platform.
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