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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... ombat.htmlNew RAF F35 jets to be sent to Cyprus base after being declared 'combat ready'
If initial operations run smoothly,
they could be used on strike missions against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria by the summer.
19:33, UK,
Thursday 10 January 2019
Britain's newest fighter jets have been declared "combat ready"
and will soon be deployed on operations.
Sky News understands a plan is being drawn up for the jets to be sent to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus this spring.
If initial operations run smoothly,
it is possible that they could be used on strike missions against Islamic State (IS) in Iraq and Syria by the summer.
Speaking at their home base, RAF Marham in Norfolk,
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said: "The incredible F35s are ready for operations.
"I won't go into specifics (on) where they're going to be deployed (but)
this is a fighting aircraft that is there to be used and to keep Britain safe.
"Just in the last 19 days we've seen 10 strikes against Daesh (IS).
We cannot be complacent, we cannot sit back,
we cannot take it for granted that Daesh would be defeated."
The news comes weeks after Donald Trump announced that he would pull US troops out of Syria.
Mr Williamson continued:
"The US has made clear it's a conditions-based approach they will take in Syria and
we will continue to work with them and other allies.
"Our nation is moving into a new era outside the EU,
and our huge achievements in air capability make our commitment
to a role on the world stage clear to both our allies and our enemies."
The design and manufacture of the F35, primarily by US firm Lockheed Martin,
has been the most expensive weapons programme in history and is running considerably over original budget expectations.
The UK currently owns nine F35s but has committed to ordering 138 over the next 30 years.
They will be flown jointly by the RAF and Royal Navy and are capable of landing on the UK's new aircraft carriers.
The announcement coincides with the retirement of the Tornado aircraft -
a long stalwart of Britain's armed forces.
It was introduced into service in 1979 and first saw operational duty during the 1991 Gulf War.
It went on to fly missions in Afghanistan, Libya and Syria.
https://www.ft.com/content/958da07e-14f ... f78404524eThe Defence Secretary said the F-35 Lightning jets - which cost £100 billion each - are now 'ready for operations' as he promised the air force had the 'power to dominate the skies into the 2040s'.
It is understood they will be sent on a training mission to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus in the spring.
https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2019/0 ... 547227849/
Jan. 11, 2019 / 1:13 PM
Britain declares its F-35B fighters ready for combat
Britain's defense minister declared its new fleet of nine F-35B Lightning fighter planes combat-ready.
"The incredible F-35 jets are ready for operations,
a transformed Typhoon [a fighter plane about to go out of service] has the power to dominate the skies into the 2040s,
and we continue to look even further into an ambitious future,"
Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson said on Thursday as he visited the Royal Air Force base in Marnham, England.
He added that the short-take-off, vertical-landing versions of the Lockheed-Martin-built F-35
are ready for overseas deployment.
Seventeen more will be built for the British military in the $700 million contract,
and the government is committed to purchasing 138 more in the next 30 years.
The Royal Air Force and Royal Navy will share flying duties.
The planes unveiled on Thursday will be sent to the RAF base in Akotiri, Cyprus, Sky News reported,
and could be used in strike missions against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria this year.
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