英國國防部於6月24日宣布，將採購12架美製F-35A「閃電II」戰機，並加入北約的雙重能力飛機核武任務，全力促進國家安全。這是自冷戰結束以來，英國所展現最有力強化核武態勢的表現。
也是自1998年英國汰除自製的WE.177重力核彈之後，儘管皇家空軍的龍捲風GR1戰機（之後升級為GR4）具備核彈投擲能力，但皇家空軍基本上已不再實質擁有空投核彈打擊能力。而龍捲風戰機於2019年全數除役後，皇家空軍更可謂完全不再能承擔起核武攻擊任務。
未來購入的F-35A戰機將由英國皇家空軍操作，部署在諾福克郡的馬勒姆皇家空軍基地，該基地現有的基礎設施和彈藥庫也會升級，以用於儲放、部署美製B61-12熱核重力炸彈。儘管英國的海基「三叉戟飛彈」系統仍將是其主要的戰略核武嚇阻力量，但引進F-35A將可提供補充戰略兵力，讓英國與其他擁有雙發戰力戰機和前進部署美國核武的北約成員國保持一致步調。
這項聲明是由英國首相史塔默在近來海牙舉行的北約峰會所宣布。英國政府則表示，購買這12架F-35A是《2025年戰略防禦評估》（SDR）內容所提更廣泛「北約優先」戰略的一部分，指出由於核戰的風險增加，因此必須實現國家嚇阻態勢的多樣化。再者，俄羅斯核武兵力的現代化，以及伊朗不斷擴大的地區影響力，造成核武擴散的威脅日益增加，英國本土遭受襲擊的可能性更不斷上升，是故需要以戰時情景思考英國本土防禦的可能性。
On January 31st of January 2019, the RAF operated the final operational sortie of the Tornado GR4. The aircraft (ZA601/066 and ZA542/035) took off from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. Pictured here is the last aircraft to take off, bringing an end to four and a half years of the types involvement on Op SHADER.
After almost 40 years serving the UK on military operations across the world, iconic RAF Tornado jets has returned home for the last time.
First entering service in 1979, the fast jets has been used in operations across the world, most recently bombarding Daesh to push the terrorist group back through Syria and Iraq.
The weapons capabilities of the soon-to-retire Tornados are now being delivered by RAF Typhoon jets, which will continue to take a leading role in the Coalitions mission against Daesh. Under Project Centurion, worth £425million over the past three years, the Typhoon can now also launch the world-leading Meteor air-to-air missile, the Stormshadow deep strike cruise missile and the precision attack missile Brimstone.
These improved RAF Typhoon jets will form the backbone of the UKs combat air fleet, alongside the recently introduced new fleet of F-35 Lighting jets over the coming years.
The Tornado will be officially retired from service at the end of March and will only be used for training purposes over the UK in the intervening period.
