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Written question asked by Mike Wood (Conservative) on Monday, 3 November 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 5 November 2025. It was answered by Luke Pollard (Labour) on Tuesday, 11 November 2025 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.


F-35 Aircraft: Nuclear Weapons

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 16 September 2025, to Question 75999, on Submarines: Nuclear Weapons, whether the UK’s new F-35A air-launched nuclear capability will use sovereign warheads.

Answer

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 8 September 2025 to Question 70471.

As confirmed when the Ministry of Defence announced our intention to participate in NATO’s nuclear mission, the nuclear weapons allocated to the NATO dual capable aircraft (DCA) nuclear mission are United States (US) nuclear weapons and the US retains control and custody over them, as the UK does with its own nuclear weapons.

The NATO DCA nuclear mission would operate under the orders of NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, when authorised by NATO’s Nuclear Planning Group, through which Allies exercise political control over the mission. The UK would always retain the right to participate, or not participate, according to a political decision by the UK Prime Minister.

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-08-29/70471


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
87345
Session
2024-26
Related items
Submarines: Nuclear Weapons
Tuesday, 16 September 2025
Written questions
House of Commons
F-35 Aircraft: Nuclear Weapons
Monday, 15 December 2025
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects
Nuclear weapons F-35 aircraft
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk