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UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced at the NATO summit that Britain will buy at least 12 U.S.-made F-35A jets capable of carrying B61 nuclear bombs, marking its return to NATO’s airborne nuclear mission after decades.

“We will procure at least 12 and we will make these aircraft able to bear nuclear weapons, if necessary,” Starmer declared, emphasizing that the decision was made in “response to a growing nuclear threat.” He further described the move as “the biggest strengthening of the UK’s nuclear posture in a generation.”

This initiative positions the UK alongside seven other NATO members, most notably the United States, Germany, and Italy, who already field nuclear-capable fighter jets as part of the alliance’s nuclear sharing arrangements. The F-35A aircraft, while conventionally capable, are designed with the capacity to carry nuclear payloads, primarily the U.S.-manufactured B61 tactical nuclear bombs.

The decision is embedded in broader strategic developments and concerns. As tensions with nuclear-armed states intensify, particularly with the modernization and expansion of nuclear arsenals in Russia and China, NATO’s emphasis on deterrence has taken on renewed urgency.

A recently published UK national security strategy document underscored this sentiment, warning that Britain must “actively prepare for the possibility of the UK homeland coming under direct threat, potentially in a wartime scenario.”

Prime Minister Starmer echoed this stark warning, stating, “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.” He has also pledged to meet NATO’s new goal of spending 5% of GDP on national security by 2035, with 3.5% directed to core defense expenditures.

Boosting NATO’s defense industry

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte welcomed the UK’s decision, calling it “yet another robust British contribution to NATO.” Defense Secretary John Healey added that the acquisition would “strengthen the NATO-collective deterrent that comes from having this nuclear capability,” and emphasized that it would support 20,000 jobs and more than 100 companies across the UK’s defense industry.

The new F-35A jets are set to be based at RAF Marham in Norfolk. Unlike the F-35B variant currently operated by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy, which is tailored for short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) missions and can operate from aircraft carriers like HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, the F-35A version is optimized for conventional runway operations. It also offers a longer range and a greater weapons payload capacity, including the ability to carry U.S. nuclear bombs.

The RAF’s acquisition of the F-35A is considered a major win for the service, which has long advocated for a dual-fleet strategy to enhance flexibility, reach, and strike capabilities in both conventional and nuclear contexts.

Questions on sovereignty and control

Despite the announcement’s strategic implications, the move has raised questions about the degree of British autonomy in using these nuclear weapons. Conservative MP Lincoln Jopp raised an urgent question in Parliament regarding the command structure over the U.S.-supplied B61 bombs, “Namely the Brits can’t use it without the American say-so.”

In response, Border Security Minister Dame Angela Eagle clarified that the UK’s participation in NATO’s nuclear mission would still be subject to NATO’s established governance structure. “The UK will also always retain the right to participate, or not to participate, on the basis of that governance arrangement,” she said.

Under NATO’s current nuclear posture, the release of B61 bombs would require joint authorization by the NATO Nuclear Planning Group, the U.S. president, and the British prime minister, ensuring multi-layered political oversight.

Historical reorientation of UK nuclear posture

Britain has not maintained a tactical airborne nuclear strike capability since 1998, when the last of its domestically designed WE177 bombs were retired. Since then, the UK’s nuclear deterrent has rested solely on the submarine-launched Trident system, operated from its fleet of Vanguard-class submarines. While Trident missiles themselves are manufactured and maintained in the U.S., the nuclear warheads are built and sustained in the UK, enabling successive governments to label the system as an “independent deterrent.”

The decision to procure nuclear-capable aircraft reintroduces a level of strategic flexibility not seen in over two decades. Mr. Bronk emphasized that while it will take time for the RAF “to get back in the nuclear game,” the immediate advantage of the F-35A acquisition lies in its enhanced conventional capabilities, including longer range and a broader array of weapon options.

Response to a changing strategic environment

The purchase follows conclusions drawn from the UK’s recent Strategic Defense Review. Defense Secretary Healey confirmed that the review “confirmed we face new nuclear risks, with other states increasing, modernizing and diversifying their nuclear arsenals.” These developments include not just Russia’s continued aggression in Ukraine and modernization of its nuclear triad, but also China’s expanding stockpile and North Korea’s persistent testing of ballistic missile capabilities.

While the introduction of nuclear-capable aircraft raises the UK’s profile in NATO’s collective deterrence framework, it also underscores the growing perception within British leadership that threats to national security are no longer theoretical or abstract. The investment is being framed not as a provocation but as a pragmatic response to a shifting security environment.

The UK’s announcement is expected to set the tone for deeper NATO cooperation during the summit in The Hague, where leaders from the 32-member alliance are gathered to reaffirm collective defense commitments. The UK’s procurement of F-35As not only bolsters NATO’s nuclear sharing arrangement but also serves as a signal to adversaries that the alliance remains both credible and cohesive.

As geopolitical tensions mount and nuclear risk becomes an increasingly central issue in defense planning, Britain’s return to a tactical airborne nuclear role highlights a broader trend toward rearmament and preparedness across the West. While critics may raise concerns over sovereignty and cost, the strategic calculus appears clear: deterrence, once again, is at the heart of UK defense policy.