51st Report - The UK’s F-35 stealth fighter capability
Select Committee
Public Accounts Committee
HC 1232
31 October 2025
Government response
Treasury minutes: Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Fifty-first report from Session 2024-26 · published 19 Jan 2026
Recommendations & Conclusions
8 results
3
Conclusion
Rejected
Produce radical plan to recruit and retain highly skilled F-35 personnel, including accommodation and pay.
Conclusion
The F-35 programme faces an unacceptable shortage of several types of personnel, including engineers, cyber specialists, pilots and qualified flying instructors. The Department acknowledges that there are significant shortages of engineers in the F-35 programme, and that this is an …
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Government Response Summary
The government rejected the recommendation for a specific F-35 workforce plan, stating it will address recruitment and retention challenges through the ongoing RAF People Campaign and by continuing existing initiatives like financial incentives and recruitment policy adjustments.
HM Treasury
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6
Conclusion
Rejected
Update committee on whole-life costs and preparation time for F-35A Dual Capable Aircraft.
Conclusion
The Department has not set out its preferred mix of F-35As and Bs, nor forecast the costs of introducing the F-35As in their nuclear weapons role. The 48 aircraft that the Department has contracted for so far are all F-35Bs, …
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Government Response Summary
The government rejected the recommendation to provide an update on additional whole-life costs and timescales for operating Dual Capable Aircraft, stating that this information is classified Secret but offered a classified briefing to the Committee.
HM Treasury
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15
Recommendation
Rejected
F-35 programme plagued by critical shortages of engineers, pilots, and flying instructors
Recommendation
The F-35 programme suffers from personnel shortages across a range of occupations. A 2024 review of the programme, by the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA, formerly the Infrastructure and Projects Authority), stated that shortages of suitably qualified engineers …
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Government Response Summary
The government disagrees with the recommendation to produce a plan specifically focused on the F-35 workforce, and will address the issue through the ongoing RAF People Campaign.
HM Treasury
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16
Conclusion
Rejected
Resolving F-35 engineering personnel shortages will take three to four years
Conclusion
The Department acknowledged that the shortages across all these roles were very important, with the Chief of the Defence Staff stating that personnel had been one of his top two priorities in his previous role as Chief of the Air …
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Government Response Summary
The government disagrees with the recommendation to produce a plan specifically focused on the F-35 workforce, and will address the issue through the ongoing RAF People Campaign.
HM Treasury
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17
Conclusion
Rejected
Department plans to fix F-35 personnel recruitment and retention, but full recovery takes time
Conclusion
The Department told us that it has plans in place to fix its recruitment and retention problems. The Department also told us that it has increased its recruitment of engineers significantly in the last two years. It has offered joining …
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Government Response Summary
The government disagrees with the recommendation to produce a plan specifically focused on the F-35 workforce, and will instead address recruitment and retention challenges through the ongoing RAF People Campaign. They also outlined a range of measures already introduced to address immediate pressures, particularly for some specialist areas, including financial retention incentives and increased opportunities for Extensions of Service.
HM Treasury
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28
Conclusion
Rejected
Future mix of F-35 variants for procurement remains undecided beyond next phase
Conclusion
The Department is deciding what mix of the two F-35 variants to buy in its procurement process. In Phase 1 the UK has contracted for 48 F-35Bs, which can fly from land bases and aircraft carriers. In June 2025 the …
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Government Response Summary
The government disagrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Costs and timescales associated with the UK's Dual Capable Aircraft nuclear mission are classified Secret.
HM Treasury
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29
Conclusion
Rejected
Department details strategic rationale for F-35A variant purchases
Conclusion
The Department told us why it had decided to purchase some A variants. The A variant can fly further for longer than the B variant, because it does not have the weight limitations that come with the ability of the …
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Government Response Summary
The government disagrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Costs and timescales associated with the UK's Dual Capable Aircraft nuclear mission are classified Secret.
HM Treasury
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30
Conclusion
Rejected
NATO nuclear mission certification expected to be more costly
Conclusion
The Department explained that it is starting to understand the practical requirements of becoming certified for the NATO nuclear mission. The Department needs to meet standards for handling, loading and using nuclear weapons. These standards are set by the United …
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Government Response Summary
The government disagrees with the Committee’s recommendation, but offers a briefing at Secret level following the Defence Investment Plan publication.
HM Treasury
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