(MENAFN) Britain announced it had signed a contract with US manufacturer Lockheed Martin to purchase the first of 14 F-35B combat jets, The Peninsula Qatar reported.
The four Lightning II stealth combat jets will operate from both of the Royal Navy's forthcoming new aircraft carriers and from Royal Air Force land bases, with another 10 due to be ordered over the next five years.
"The investment we are making in the F-35 aircraft will ensure we are securing the skies for decades to come, providing the UK with the latest stealth technology and multi-role aircraft capability," minister for defence said.
The first batch is expected to be delivered in 2016 and will take up station in 2018. The government has long planned to provide its air and naval forces with F-35Bs and signed an agreement to buy the four jets last month.
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