UK allocates £161m to maintain and support fleet of F-35B fifth-generation fighters in Norfolk

The UK Ministry of Defence has announced a new contract with Lockheed Martin. The additional funding will allow the company to maintain and support its fleet of fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter jets.

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The aircraft are based at the UK Royal Air Force's Marham Air Base in the county of Norfolk, East Anglia. A UK Ministry of Defence spokesman said the funding would allow British F-35B fighters to remain ready for combat operations.

US company Lockheed Martin has become the main contractor and Britain's BAE Systems has become a subcontractor. The £161m investment creates 140 new jobs, including 130 at the East Anglia airbase.

The Ministry of Defence added that the agreement gives Britain more freedom to operate the fighters, increases flight hours and offers enhanced mission planning, training and maintenance capabilities. The previous contract expired in 2023. The new agreement will run until 2027.

The UK received its first F-35B Lightning II short takeoff and vertical landing fighters in 2018. They replace the Tornado GR4, which was withdrawn from service in 2019, after 40 years in service.

Source: BBC