Ministry of Defence still unclear on cost of RAF nuclear jet plan, MPs say

"Ministers still do not know when RAF jets will be able to carry nuclear weapons or how much the project will cost, the Commons spending watchdog has found. In a report published on Friday, the influential Commons Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said the Ministry of Defence (MoD) had still not set out how much it would cost to operate new F-35A jets. Sir Keir Starmer announced at the Nato summit in June that the UK would purchase 12 of the jets."

"The committee said the project was still at an early stage, with the MoD starting to understand the requirements of being certified for the Nato nuclear mission. The MoD told the committee that the F-35As were 20 per cent to 25 per cent cheaper than the F-35Bs currently operated by the RAF and Royal Navy and slightly cheaper to support."

Ministers still lack a timetable and cost estimates for adapting RAF F-35A jets to carry nuclear weapons, according to the Commons Public Accounts Committee. The MoD has begun assessing certification requirements for joining NATO's airborne nuclear mission after a decision to purchase 12 F-35A jets announced at the Nato summit. The MoD estimates F-35As to be 20–25% cheaper to buy and slightly cheaper to support than F-35Bs, but additional training and personnel needed for the nuclear role could increase overall costs. The PAC described the project as being at an early stage and lacking firm operational costings.

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