The British have done pretty well out of the F-35 so far. They signed up as the only Level One partner and contributed about £1.7 billion ($2.47 billion at current exchange rates) for development, or about 10 percent of the total as originally envisaged. That gave them a seat at the top table, when all the requirements were set. It also put them in prime position for workshare, with BAE Systems getting all the rear fuselages, and UK industry an overall 15 percent share.

The development bill subsequently escalated to twice the original estimate – but the Brits didn’t have to pay any more. That’s just as well, given how expensive the country’s two new Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers are. However, the UK is paying its fair share (an estimated £3.2 billion, or $4.65 billion) to help set up production and sustainment for the F-35, and for follow-on development.

The UK will first land its F-35Bs on the QEII aircraft carrier at the end of 2018. But it has not set full operating capability for the F-35B until April 2023 (two squadrons). And it has only ordered aircraft at a slow pace, while waiting for the unit price to come down. That price is supposed to reach $80 million before too long, whereas early production aircraft have cost up to $140 million. The last British defense review supposedly committed the country to buying all 138 Lightning IIs as originally planned. That seems highly unlikely.

What does seem likely is that the UK will eventually buy a mixed fleet. The country has already flirted with the F-35C, only reverting to the F-35B when the true cost of ‘cats and traps’ on the QEII ships was understood. Now senior airmen are eyeing the increased maneuverability, range and weapons bay capacity of the F-35A versus the F-35B.