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F-35 Aircraft: Nuclear Weapons

Asked by Charlie DewhirstConservativeMinistry of DefenceTabled Answered 17 March 2026UIN 119054

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, who will (a) provide and (b) maintain nuclear weapons for use on the UK’s new F-35A aircraft.

Answered by Luke Pollard

As confirmed in June 2025 when the Ministry of Defence announced our intention to participate in NATO’s nuclear mission, the nuclear weapons allocated to the NATO dual capable aircraft nuclear mission are United States (US) nuclear weapons and the US retains control and custody over them, as the UK does with our own nuclear weapons.

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