UK may reduce its F-35B order.

According to the Times, the United Kingdom  may consider decreasing the number of its F-35B fighter jet purchases by 65%.

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An F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121 prepares to make a vertical landing at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz. This marks the first vertical landing of a Marine Corps F-35B outside of a testing environment (Picture source: US Marine Corps)

UK may only buy 48 jets, down from the previously known number of 138. A report by the Sunday Times said that “an order for 90 more F-35 Lightning combat jets is to be cancelled in favour of the Tempest fighter, built in Lancashire, while 24 older Typhoon fighters will be retired early.”

“Things change in the course of these very long-term programmes", said MoD’s Permanent Secretary Sir Stephen Lovegrove. Different capabilities come along that render things that you have yet to buy possibly obsolete or perhaps you need fewer of them or the threats change.”