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F-35 Aircraft: Procurement

Asked by James CartlidgeConservativeMinistry of DefenceTabled Answered 25 November 2025UIN 91684

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 140 of the MOD Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of his decision to cancel the Rolling Vertical Landing upgrade on F-35 capability.

Answered by Luke Pollard

Shipborne Rolling Vertical Landing (SRVL) for the UK's F-35B Lightning aircraft to Queen Elizabeth Class carriers has not been cancelled; it has been re-profiled as a Defence Choice so that fitting the capability aligns with the introduction of a related complex weapons programme. This is not expected to have an adverse impact on overall Carrier Strike or F-35B capability.

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