London is more likely to proceed with an order for F-35s rather than Eurofighter Typhoons, despite the risks of being overly dependent on the U.S. for maintaining the combat readiness of British aircraft. Equally concerning is the potential closure of the Eurofighter assembly plant, which could lead to the loss of expertise necessary for finishing the Tempest sixth-generation fighter project.
This assessment comes from The Times, based on discussions with anonymous sources in the UK defense sector. Defense Express, meanwhile, reminds that Britain is the only "first-tier partner" in the F-35 program: BAE Systems contributes a 13-15% workshare of each aircraft, excluding the engine, and supplies key components such as the rear fuselage, electronic warfare system, and flight control subsystems.
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Because of this role, London can afford a more confident approach to F-35 procurement than other countries. Furthermore, The Times points out that the UK was directly involved in the aircraft’s development and testing.
Such deep involvement makes the UK stand out from Denmark, for example, where military planners have already started considering scenarios in which the U.S. administration led by Donald Trump could disable Danish F-35s to forcefully seize Greenland. As one British official remarked, "I would not be so calm if I were Danish."
The UK now faces the decision of securing a contract for additional F-35s. Unlike the previous order of 48 shipborne F-35Bs for the HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carriers (37/48 delivered), this time the focus is on acquiring F-35As for conventional airfields.
The potential order could exceed 100 fighters, both to replace the 49 Eurofighter Typhoon fighters of the oldest Tranche 1 version, currently being retired, and to increase the Royal Air Force's numbers.
Several factors work against favoring the Eurofighter over the F-35. First, as a fifth-generation aircraft, the F-35A offers greater capabilities than the 4.5-generation Typhoon. Second, it is reportedly cheaper: The Times cites unit costs of £64 million (€76 million) for the F-35A and £73 million (€87 million) for the Eurofighter Typhoon.
However, Defense Express notes that these figures don't align with previous acquisition contracts. In December 2024, Spain ordered 25 Eurofighters for €4 billion, implying a per-unit cost of approximately €160 million (though this includes simulators and an initial maintenance package).
Meanwhile, based on a 2023 contract with the Czech Republic, the cost of an F-35 stands at about €195 million per aircraft. That said, the UK, as a first-tier partner, may receive preferential pricing on the F-35, whereas Eurofighter costs are the same for Spain and Britain.
Regarding the concerns raised by the Unite labor union about the potential closure of BAE Systems' Warton plant due to a lack of Eurofighter orders, government sources don't share these fears. They say, pending Eurofighter orders from Saudi Arabia and Turkiye should keep the facility afloat.
This leads to an interesting situation: while the UK is buying American fighters, it continues exporting its own.
Read more: France Offers Rafale and SAMP/T Instead of F-35 and Patriot — But Can It Compete on Production Speed?
