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.
NATO Scrambles Fighter in Newest Response to Russian Drones
Sept. 16, 2025
NATO scrambled its first fighter Sept. 13 under its new plan to bolster its defenses against Russian air incursions that was put into place after an array of Russian drones flew into Polish airspace last week, the officials from the alliance’s military command said.
