US F-35Bs to Fly on UK Carriers

Dec. 16, 2016 | By Brian W. Everstine

US F-35Bs will begin flying off United Kingdom aircraft carriers in 2021, British Defense Minister Michael Fallon announced Thursday as a way to “return the favor.” United Kingdom Royal Air Force and Royal Navy pilots have been able to test fly F-35s off US aircraft carriers as part of the country’s “regeneration of UK carrier strike capability,” Fallon said during a joint appearance with US Defense Secretary Ash Carter in London. Beginning in 2021, US F-35Bs will start flying from Queen Elizabeth carriers. UK pilots have been operating on the USS America, using a 10-member team assigned to the F-35 Pax River Integrated Test Force. This team conducted a 23-day embarkation, according to a Navy release.

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