Brits to outfit new carrier for F-35B in 2021

The United Kingdom will outfit its new Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier to allow the U.S. F-35B Joint Strike Fighter to operate from it beginning in 2021, British Defence Minister Michael Fallon announced today in a joint press conference with Defense Secretary Ash Carter.

Fallon noted that the British military wanted to “return the favor” to the United States, which is already outfitting its aircraft carriers for the operation of the U.K. variant of the F-35.

Carter said the new agreement, which would allow the Marine Corps F-35B to operate from the U.K. carrier during its first operational deployment, deepened the military cooperation between the two nations.