Delays and shortages in UK's F-35 jet fleet, watchdog says
Published: 7/11/2025

The UK faces delays and shortages in its F-35 jet fleet, with the National Audit Office criticising the expenditure on the program as exceeding initial estimates. The F-35 stealth jet is crucial to Britain's warfighting capability, but the progress has been disappointing, impacting the full mission capable rate. Despite the challenges, the UK government aims to prioritize resources to enhance the F-35 program and expand national security spending to meet Nato's targets.