The UK’s F-35 fighter fleet is set to employ US-manufactured glide bombs as a stopgap solution while awaiting delayed software updates from Lockheed Martin that will enable the use of the SPEAR 3 mini-cruise missile. This information was confirmed in a response from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which had previously criticized the management of the F-35 program.
Current Capabilities and Delays
The PAC’s report highlighted significant gaps in the F-35’s capabilities, particularly the absence of a stand-off weapon for engaging ground targets from a distance. Although the SPEAR missile has been tested and is ready for deployment, the F-35 cannot currently utilize it due to delays in the Block 4 software update, which is now expected to be delivered in 2031—five years later than initially planned.
Interim Measures and Procurement
In light of these delays, the MoD has received approval to procure the Small Diameter Bomb (SDB II), known as GBU-53/B StormBreaker in US service. This precision-guided munition will provide the F-35 with an interim stand-off capability until the SPEAR 3 missile can be integrated. The SDB II weighs approximately 200 pounds (93 kg) and can glide to targets up to 69 miles (111 km) away, utilizing a tri-mode seeker for tracking.
Operational Challenges and Criticism
Further criticisms directed at the MoD included a shortage of qualified engineers and a pattern of delaying purchases to meet budgetary constraints, which has inflated overall program costs and diminished operational capacity. Permanent Secretary at the MoD, Jeremy Pocklington, acknowledged that there were insufficient spare parts to support F-35 operations during the HMS Prince of Wales’s eight-month deployment.
Future Plans and Engineering Shortages
Pocklington noted that the MoD is addressing the engineering shortfall by increasing the number of available posts to 168, with plans to fill remaining positions by 2032. However, the Defence Investment Plan (DIP), which is crucial for many key projects, is still pending publication, leaving several initiatives in limbo.
The PAC chair, Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP, criticized the MoD’s planning and logistics, emphasizing the need for reliable support for military operations. He expressed concern over the implications of inadequate preparation in an increasingly volatile global environment.
This article was produced by NeonPulse.today using human and AI-assisted editorial processes, based on publicly available information. Content may be edited for clarity and style.
