The UK’s F-35B Lightning stealth fighter jets will start their first overseas deployment in Cyprus later this year.
It will allow RAF and Royal Navy personnel to gain experience in maintaining and flying the aircraft in an unfamiliar environment, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.
✈️ The UK now has 9 F-35 Lightning jets ready to be deployed on operations around the world. The F-35 Lightnings will form the backbone of the UK’s combat air fleet alongside the newly upgraded Typhoon jets.? Read more: https://t.co/q41f5yuMDM pic.twitter.com/lVIfls8uaj
— Ministry of Defence ?? (@DefenceHQ) January 10, 2019
The UK currently owns 17 of the multimillion-pound aircraft, and Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson pledged that a total of 138 will be bought.
He said: “These formidable fighters are a national statement of our intent to protect ourselves and our allies from intensifying threats across the world.
The home base of the F-35s is RAF Marham in Norfolk and they will be deployed to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.
The jets’ first embarkation on aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, due to happen in the autumn, will also be an important milestone to “prove their readiness”, said Admiral Sir Philip Jones KCB ADC DL, First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff.
It has the ability to operate from land and sea.
The first of the F-35s touched down in the UK in June 2018, and it was announced in January that they are ready to be deployed on operations.
