Editing Fleet Air Arm (section)

====F-35B Lightning II====
[[File:Britain's most advanced jets touch down on home soil MOD 45164370.jpg|thumb|The Fleet Air Arm operates the F-35B from the ''Queen Elizabeth''-class aircraft carriers.]]

The introduction of the [[Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II|F-35B Lightning II]] saw a restoration of fixed wing, front-line operations to the FAA after the retirement of [[Joint Force Harrier]] in 2010. The Lightning Force is a joint RAF-Fleet Air Arm formation with all F-35Bs capable of operating from the Royal Navy's [[Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier]]s. The first Fleet Air Arm squadron to operate the F-35B is [[809 Naval Air Squadron]] which formally stood-up in December 2023, joining other F-35B squadrons within the RAF that are formally part of [[No. 1 Group RAF]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.navylookout.com/building-up-the-lightning-force-when-will-the-uk-get-its-f-35-jets/ | title=Building up the Lightning Force – when will the UK get its F-35 jets? &#124; Navy Lookout | date=14 September 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet |url=https://twitter.com/NavyLookout/status/1733080885820260761?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet |title=@NavyLookout F-35 with @809NAS 'phoenix from the flames' tail art on display at @RAF_Marham as the squadron recommissions today.  |number=1733080885820260761 |user=NavyLookout |date=8 December 2023 |access-date=8 December 2023}}</ref>

An initial order of 48 airframes was made in 2012 to equip the air wings of the two ''Queen Elizabeth''-class aircraft carriers, with the operation split between the FAA and the [[Royal Air Force]], as was the case with Joint Force Harrier. [[809 Naval Air Squadron]] was announced as the second UK unit to fly the F-35B (the first being [[No. 617 Squadron RAF|617 Squadron RAF]]) and is the first FAA unit to operate the aircraft. It is understood that at least two further frontline squadrons will stand up in the future alongside 809, 617, [[No. 17 Squadron RAF|17(R) Test and Evaluation Squadron]] and an RAF-numbered Operational Conversion Unit, creating a total of six squadrons including the OCU and OEU. Under the Strategic Defence and Security Review of November 2015, the UK Government made a commitment to buying 138 F-35B, with at least 24 available for carrier use by 2023.<ref>{{cite news|title=Osborne: UK to speed up aircraft carrier jet purchase|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34893614|access-date=22 November 2015|work=BBC News|date=22 November 2015}}</ref><ref name="SDSR2015">{{cite web|title=National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/478933/52309_Cm_9161_NSS_SD_Review_web_only.pdf|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=26 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151124082813/https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/478933/52309_Cm_9161_NSS_SD_Review_web_only.pdf|archive-date=24 November 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Subsequently, following on the [[Defence in a Competitive Age|2021 defence review]], the First Sea Lord indicated that the new envisaged number was to be 60 aircraft initially and "then maybe more", up to a maximum of around 80 to hopefully equip four "deployable squadrons".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/uk-looking-at-60-maybe-up-to-around-80-f-35b-jets/|title = UK looking at '60 and then maybe up to 80′ F-35B jets|date = 23 March 2021}}</ref> In April 2022, the Deputy Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Richard Knighton, told the House of Commons Defence Select Committee that the MoD was in discussions to purchase a second tranche of 26 F-35B fighters. Plans for frontline F-35B squadrons had been modified and now envisaged a total of three squadrons (rather than four) each deploying 12-16 aircraft.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2022-06-23.HL1253.h | title=F-35 Aircraft }}</ref> In surge conditions 24 F-35s might be deployed on the Queen Elizabeth-class carriers but a routine deployment would likely involve 12 aircraft.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.navylookout.com/uk-to-purchase-at-least-74-f-35-jets/ | title=UK to purchase at least 74 F-35 jets &#124; Navy Lookout | date=27 April 2022 }}</ref>

In January 2019, initial operating capability for the UK's F-35B was announced<ref>{{cite news|title=UK declares IOC Land for F-35 force|url=https://www.janes.com/article/85642/uk-declares-ioc-land-for-f-35-force|access-date=11 January 2019|publisher=IHS Janes|date=11 January 2019}}</ref> with 18 F-35Bs jointly delivered to the UK.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://airforcesmonthly.keypublishing.com/2019/05/21/lightning-to-cyprus-first-deployment-for-uk-f-35b/|title= Key.Aero - the Only Destination for Aviation Enthusiasts}}</ref> As of December 2022, 26 aircraft were operational in the UK and were based at [[RAF Marham]]. These aircraft regularly deployed for operations on the ''Queen Elizabeth-class'' aircraft carriers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/nov/17/british-f35-jet-crashes-into-mediterranean|title=British F-35 jet crashes into Mediterranean|website=[[TheGuardian.com]]|date=17 November 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/more-f-35-jets-delivered-to-the-uk/|title = More F-35 jets delivered to the UK|date = 4 November 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2018-08-04/further-five-f-35-fighter-jets-land-at-new-raf-marham-home/|title= Further five F-35 fighter jets land at RAF Marham|date=4 August 2018}}</ref> Another 3 F-35s remained in the US for testing and evaluation purposes.

While 38 F-35B aircraft (including 3 or 4 based in the U.S.) were in the U.K. inventory by May 2025,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/britain-takes-delivery-of-more-f-35-stealth-jets/ | title=Britain takes delivery of more F-35 stealth jets |website=U.K. Defence Journal |last=Langford |first=Craig | date= 8 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/britain-takes-delivery-of-more-new-f-35-stealth-jets/#:~:text=The%20arrival%20of%20more%20F,by%20the%20end%20of%202025. | title=Britain takes delivery of more new F-35 stealth jets |website=UK Defence Journal |last=Allison |first=George | date= 17 March 2024}}</ref> as the former U.K. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace had reported,  the RAF and Royal Navy faced a considerable challenge in providing even the existing modest F-35B fleet with qualified pilots. As of late 2022 there were only 30 qualified British pilots (plus three exchange pilots from the United States and Australia) for the F-35. The average wait time for RAF trainee Typhoon and F-35 pilots, after completing the Military Flying Training System, was approximately 11 and 12 months respectively. A further gap of 68 weeks existed between completing Basic Flying Training and beginning Advanced Fast Jet Training. The resulting pilot shortage was a factor in delaying the ability to stand up the first Fleet Air Arm Squadron (809 Squadron) on a timely basis.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.airforce-technology.com/features/uk-military-pilot-training-in-limbo-for-beleaguered-raf/ | title=UK military pilot training in limbo for beleaguered RAF | date=7 November 2022 }}</ref> In February 2023, the [[Chief of the Air Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the Air Staff]], Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston, reported that the number of F-35 pilots had grown to 34 UK pilots with a further 7 to complete training by August 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oral evidence: Work of the Chief of the Air Staff, HC 1108 |url=https://committees.parliament.uk/oralevidence/12649/html/ |date=1 February 2023}}</ref>