The UK’s Lightning Force just got stronger F-35B jet BK48 touched down at RAF Marham last week (Image: RAF Marham)
An RAF base has reached a “significant milestone” with the arrival of three new fighter jets. RAF Marham in Norfolk has welcomed three new F-35B planes, taking its arsenal up to 47.
The site is the home of the F-35 Lightning, a 5th Generation, multi-role, stealth fighter. The Station is also home to a range of engineering support functions from maintenance to frontline support. Over 3600 Service Personnel, civil servants and contractors work at the base. The F-35B Lightning is a stealth aircraft operating alongside the Typhoon.
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The arrival marked a ‘significant milestone’, it was claimed (Image: RAF Marham)
A multi-role machine, Lightning is capable of conducting air-to-surface, electronic warfare, intelligence gathering and air-to-air missions simultaneously.
The F-35B is the next generation of combat aircraft that operates alongside Typhoon.
As of 2024-2025, an F-35B Lightning II for the UK generally costs roughly £85 million to over £100 million per aircraft for the airframe and engine alone.
However, the “true” cost is higher when accounting for software upgrades, spare parts, and support, with some reports suggesting the total cost per jet can exceed £150 million.
Lightning is a multi-role combat aircraft that can conduct the roles and missions of different aircraft types simultaneously. For Lightning, this also includes air-to-air and air-to- surface, electronic warfare.
It has advanced sensors, mission systems and low- observable technology, otherwise known as stealth that allows it to operate undetected in hostile environments. Using the integrated sensors, the pilot is provided with unprecedented situational awareness of the battle space.
The pilot is then able to share this information with other platforms using secure data links, or use this information to employ its weapons or electronic attack capability. Lightning is a short take-off and vertical landing aircraft that can operate from aircraft carriers and in austere environments.
617 Squadron reformed as the first front-line Lightning squadron in 2018, comprising RN and RAF personnel, followed by 207 Squadron – the Operational Conversion unit – in 2019. Lightning achieved its Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in December 2018 and became IOC (Maritime) in December 2020.
A spokesman for the base said: “F-35B jet BK48 touched down at RAF Marham last week, bringing the total number of operational F-35Bs in the UK fleet to 47.
“It means reaching a significant milestone, completing the initial procurement phase of one of the most advanced combat aircraft programmes in the world.
“The final three aircraft, BK46, BK47 and BK48, delivered by Lockheed Martin, left the assembly line in Fort Worth, Texas, before making the transatlantic crossing to their home here in Norfolk.
“The F-35B is the backbone of UK air power, operating from both land and sea aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales.
“Each aircraft represents cutting-edge stealth technology, advanced sensors, and unmatched capability to keep the UK and our allies safe.”