Latest news with #F35s
NDTV
11-07-2025
- Business
- NDTV
UK's F-35 Jet Program Cost Swelling To 71 Billion Pound: Auditor
The UK's plan to significantly expand its fleet of fighter jets is poised to cost 71 Billion pounds ($96.2 billion) over the next four decades, more than triple the original estimates, according to a report by Britain's spending watchdog. The projection by the National Audit Office released Friday is sharply higher than the 19 billion pounds the Ministry of Defense initially said it would cost to purchase and maintain the Lockheed Martin Corp. F35 warplanes. The increase to the total price tag in part reflects the fact that the MoD's initial estimates were based on the cost of the first 48 planes, rather than the 138 it eventually intends to buy, the NAO said. It also reflects 14 billion pounds in costs the NAO said would be required for fuel, personnel and additional infrastructure through 2069 that were excluded from the previous tally. The push to modernise and expand the British airforce with Lockheed's advanced warplanes has also been stymied by delays, staffing shortages and a lack of adequate infrastructure, with about 11 billion pounds spent so far. "The F-35 program offers significantly improved capability and considerable economic benefits to the UK. But the capability benefits are not being fully realized due to delays, infrastructure gaps and personnel shortages," said Gareth Davies, head of the NAO. "The MoD now needs to decide where to prioritize its resources to improve capability in a way that maximizes the full benefits of the F-35 program to the UK," he said. The report comes as UK and other countries in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization are planning to increase their military spending in response to pressure by the US and the concerns about the risk of further Russian aggression in Europe. A spokesperson for the MoD said that the program "continues to operate within its approved budget" and said that despite delays, the UK will have two full squadrons of F-35 fighter jets ready for deployment by the end of this year. Moreover, the ministry said the decision to buy 12 A model F35s - instead of the B version - as part of its plans to bolster NATO's nuclear-deterrent operations will cut the cost of each plane by 25%. But the overall plans to equip the largely US-made aircraft with UK-developed missiles have been pushed back until the next decade, while the full delivery of the first batch of 48 aircraft is also behind schedule, according to the NAO, which said such delays are "undermining the armed forces' war-fighting capability." (This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Cedar News
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Cedar News
Video: President Trump and First Lady watch B2 bombers, F35s, and F22s fly over the White House
BREAKING: President Trump and First Lady watch B2 bombers, F35s, and F22s fly over the White House for July 4th, Video: President Trump and First Lady watch B2 bombers, F35s, and F22s fly over the White House — Cedar News (@cedar_news) July 4, 2025
Wales Online
25-06-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
UK Government to buy fleet of nuclear-carrying fighter jets
UK Government to buy fleet of nuclear-carrying fighter jets The Prime Minister said we're "in an era of radical uncertainty we can no longer take peace for granted" It represents 'the biggest strengthening of the UK's nuclear posture in a generation' (Image: A1C Tenley Long/USAF / SWNS ) Twelve new fighter jets which can be equipped with nuclear bombs are to be purchased by the UK Government, it has been confirmed. The UK will purchase 12 new F-35A fighter jets and join NATO's dual capable aircraft nuclear mission in a major boost for national security. The Prime Minister will announce at the NATO summit on Wednesday that the UK intends to buy at least a dozen of the dual capable aircraft, which can carry "both nuclear and conventional weapons". It says the decision will support 20,000 jobs in the F35 programme in the UK, with 15% of the global supply chain for the jets based in Britain, supporting highly skilled jobs and opportunities for working people and delivering a defence dividend across the country. The new fast jets will be based at RAF Marham, with the Government expected to procure 138 F35s over the lifetime of the programme. The procurement of 12 F-35A rather than 12 F-35B as part of the next procurement package will deliver a saving of up to 25% per aircraft for the taxpayer. The purchase "represents the biggest strengthening of the UK's nuclear posture in a generation." Article continues below It also reintroduces a nuclear role for the Royal Air Force for the first time since the UK retired its sovereign air-launched nuclear weapons following the end of the Cold War. The UK will deploy the jets as part of NATO's nuclear Dual Capable Aircraft mission, strengthening NATO's nuclear deterrence posture. Prime minister Keir Starmer 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.' 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." For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here And defence secretary John Healey MP added: '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 in the UK.' The UK Government said the announcement "further underlines the UK's unshakeable commitment to NATO, and the principle of collective defence under Article V." This announcement follows the SDR's commitments to deliver up to 12 new conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines and £15bn this parliament to deliver the sovereign nuclear warhead programme. Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here . We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice Article continues below
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Does India need pricey F35s in the drone age?
Does India need pricey F35s in the drone age? Swaminathan S Anklesaria Aiyar Updated: May 17, 2025, 20:19 IST IST While fighters and tanks are not completely obsolete, they are less important today, and will no longer dominate war Defence experts the world over are scrutinizing the details of the Indo-Pak near-war to draw lessons for future wars. Most analyses confirm the main lesson from the Russia-Ukraine war — inexpensive drones and loitering munitions are much cheaper and more effective than fancy aircraft and tanks costing billions. Loitering munitions are drones that can loiter above a target for some time, calculating the best lines of attack and then hitting the target with high precision. Future wars will be driven by drones that cost a tiny fraction of conventional hardware. Many facts were disputed in the immediate aftermath of Operation Sindoor , but analysts from other countries have now given their views after detailed examination of photos before and after. They confirm that India's Operation Sindoor, using drones and cruise missiles, hit targets deep inside Pakistani territory. They escaped Pakistan's defence systems because they flew at treetop-height, evading radar.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Denmark receives four more F-35s; half of fleet now home after delays
PARIS — Denmark received four more F-35 fighter jets on Thursday, with more than half of the country's ordered fleet of stealth aircraft now stationed on Danish soil, after delivery had been delayed as manufacturer Lockheed Martin struggled to implement an upgrade for the plane. The four jets joined the fighter wing at Skrydstrup air base after a delivery flight from the Lockheed Martin factories in Texas via the Azores, bringing the number of repatriated F35s to 15, the Danish Ministry of Defence said in a statement on Friday. The country has ordered 27 of the fighters, of which six are stationed at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona for training. The remaining six aircraft that will complete the order are scheduled to be delivered by the end of 2026, the defense ministry said. 'With the arrival of the four aircraft yesterday, we have taken another step towards building up the combat capability of the F-35 aircraft,' said Maj. Gen. Jan Dam, the commander of the Royal Danish Air Force. Lockheed Martin deliveries of F-35 jets were delayed last year due to issues with the so-called Technology Refresh 3 upgrade, or TR-3. That left Denmark scrambling for options to meet F-35 rollout milestones and expand its locally based fleet beyond four aircraft, eventually prompting a decision in June to fly the country's training aircraft home. After the Minister of Defence had to inform the government last year that the delivery delays could affect the F-35 program milestones, 'the outlook now looks different,' the MoD said. Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen told business newspaper Borsen in March that he wanted to order more F-35 jets, despite threats by U.S. President Donald Trump targeting the Danish autonomous territory of Greenland, with the minister saying Denmark is too small to operate several types of fighter jets. The Danish Air Force has started to use the F-35 to take over some air-policing missions from the country's aging F-16 fleet, with the new jets flying their first mission to intercept a Russian military aircraft over the Baltic Sea in late March. The country plans to phase out the F-16 for air defense by the end of 2025, according to the MoD. Danish F-35s took part in the NATO exercise Ramstein Flag from March 31 to April 11, their first participation in a major exercise, operating from the air base at Skrydstrup. Denmark has pledged to donate F-16s to Ukraine as part of a coalition with the Netherlands and Norway.
