He stressed the new planes would help support more than 20,000 jobs as he continues to draw a link between increased defense spending and economic security.
Downing Street said it represented “the biggest strengthening of the U.K.’s nuclear posture in a generation.”
The F-35As will be deployed as part of NATO’s nuclear dual capable aircraft mission, making good on the government’s commitments in its recent strategic defense review.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte welcomed the announcement, describing it as “yet another robust British contribution to NATO.”
The U.K., unlike France, is a member of NATO’s Nuclear Planning Group.
Five NATO countries — Italy, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Turkey — are currently members of a U.S. nuclear sharing agreement that allows them to store American nuclear weapons on their soil and operate nuclear-capable American fighter jets.
