{"id":41167,"date":"2026-05-20T12:03:38","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T11:03:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/?p=41167"},"modified":"2026-05-20T12:05:57","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T11:05:57","slug":"british-raf-f-35-stranded-azores","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/news\/british-raf-f-35-stranded-azores\/","title":{"rendered":"Two brand new British F-35s have been stranded in the Azores for over two months"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>In April 2026, the <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/tag\/raf\" type=\"post\" id=\"41148\">RAF<\/a><\/span><\/strong> and <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/tag\/royal-navy\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"265\">Royal Navy<\/a><\/span><\/strong> received the final examples from the UK\u2019s initial tranche of 48 <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/tag\/lockheed-martin-f-35\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1950\">F-35Bs<\/a><\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Well, sort of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Two aircraft flew partway across the Atlantic before getting stuck on the Azores waypoint, where they remain.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"heading-two\">Brand new British F-35Bs stuck in the Azores<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>According to <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.navylookout.com\/uk-f-35-fleet-stretched-by-combat-operations-and-upgrade-delays\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Navy Lookout<\/a><\/span><\/strong>, reviewing the state of the United Kingdom&#8217;s 47 F-35Bs, two of the fighter jets have been stuck at Lajes International Airport in the Portuguese Azores since 9 March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The two aircraft were part of the final batch of Lot 17 fighters destined for the UK. Five aircraft transited the North Atlantic en route to RAF Marham, but while three completed the crossing, two became stuck in the Azores after reportedly suffering technical problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/UK-RAF-F-35-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Royal Air Force Lockheed Martin F-35\" class=\"wp-image-25338\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/UK-RAF-F-35-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/UK-RAF-F-35-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/UK-RAF-F-35-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image: MOD Crown Copyright<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Navy Lookout says that the two stranded jets likely require assistance from <a href=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/tag\/lockheed-martin\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"116\">Lockheed Martin<\/a> Engineers before they complete their transit to the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Azores, located in the mid-Atlantic, serve as a major refuelling and staging base for US and NATO aircraft moving between Europe and North America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2025, <a href=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/news\/first-argentine-f-16s-ferry-home\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/news\/first-argentine-f-16s-ferry-home\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>former Danish F-16 Fighting Falcons transited the Azores<\/strong><\/span><\/a> for a few days as they made their way to Argentina in South America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/RAF?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#RAF<\/a> Royal Air Force &#8211; Lightning Delivery<br><br>Airbus KC.2 Voyager 1x<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/43C6F8?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#43C6F8<\/a> ZZ335 &#8211; ASCOT 9303<br><br>+ ASCOT 9741 1x F-35B<br><br>An RAF Voyager as ASCOT 9303 is inbound RAF Brize Norton as it returns from Lajes with potentially just a single F-35Bs for RAF Marham, leaving another two at\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/tU9PO75Y3W\">pic.twitter.com\/tU9PO75Y3W<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Armchair Admiral \ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udde7 (@ArmchairAdml) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ArmchairAdml\/status\/2035043300151873845?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 20, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>This is not the first time British F-35s have found themselves stranded far from home. In 2025, an <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/news\/stranded-f-35-kerala-c-17-globemaster-airlift\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"24937\">F-35B operating from HMS Prince of Wales spent 37 days grounded in Kerala, India<\/a><\/span><\/strong>, after making an emergency diversion during Operation Highmast.<\/p>\n\n\n        <div class=\"flex flex-wrap items-center justify-start -mx-2 mt-6\">\n                                    <a href=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/news\/british-f-35-kerala-departure\/\"  class=\"btn-ocean  mx-2 my-2  flex items-center flex-row \">\n                                        <span class=\"sr-only\">Read next: Monsoons, memes and mechanics &#8211; British F-35 finally flies out from Kerala after 37-day grounding<\/span>\n                    <span>Read next: Monsoons, memes and mechanics &#8211; British F-35 finally flies out from Kerala after 37-day grounding<\/span>\n                <\/a>\n                        <\/div>\n        \n\n<h2 class=\"heading-two\">RAF struggling with F-35 readiness<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>The incident comes as questions continue to grow around the availability and sustainment of the UK\u2019s F-35 fleet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to the National Audit Office, <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/news\/uk-f-35-mission-capability-issues\/\">only around one-third of British F-35s are currently considered fully mission capable<\/a><\/span><\/strong>, while only around half are mission capable for at least one role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Navy Lookout reported that on a typical day, perhaps only 10 or 11 of the UK\u2019s 47 remaining F-35Bs are flyable, with perhaps five or six fully combat capable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"714\" src=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/UK-RAF-F-35.jpeg\" alt=\"RAF F-35\" class=\"wp-image-25298\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/UK-RAF-F-35.jpeg 1000w, https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/UK-RAF-F-35-300x214.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/UK-RAF-F-35-768x548.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo: DVIDS<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>More recent operations have also exposed wider sustainment concerns around the UK\u2019s F-35 fleet. In 2026, Parliament\u2019s Public Accounts Committee criticised the Ministry of Defence after HMS Prince of Wales deployed to the Middle East with <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/news\/uk-mod-f35-middle-east-spares-corrosion\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"40993\">spare parts packs reportedly sized for only 12 F-35Bs despite carrying 24 aircraft.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Meanwhile, <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/news\/royal-navy-f35b-florida-corrosion-inspections\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"34020\">British F-35Bs have also begun intensive corrosion inspections in the United States<\/a><\/span><\/strong>, highlighting the growing maintenance burden associated with operating stealth fighters at sea.<\/p>\n\n\n        <div class=\"flex flex-wrap items-center justify-start -mx-2 mt-6\">\n                                    <a href=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/news\/uk-f-35-mission-capability-issues\/\"  class=\"btn-ocean  mx-2 my-2  flex items-center flex-row \">\n                                        <span class=\"sr-only\">Read more: Just 1\/3rd of UK F-35 fighter jet fleet are fully mission capable<\/span>\n                    <span>Read more: Just 1\/3rd of UK F-35 fighter jet fleet are fully mission capable<\/span>\n                <\/a>\n                        <\/div>\n        \n\n<h2 class=\"heading-two\">When will the RAF order more F-35s?<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Having <a href=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/news\/uk-raf-f-35b-defence-investment-plan-delay-order\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/news\/uk-raf-f-35b-defence-investment-plan-delay-order\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>completed Tranche 1 for 48 F-35Bs<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, the UK is preparing to place the second order for 27 F-35s to bring the fleet up to 74 examples. The order could also replace one F-35 (ZM152) that was lost when it fell off the HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, the long-delayed Defence Investment Plan has effectively frozen any final decision on the next tranche.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" src=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Lockheed-Martin-F-35B-landing-on-the-HMS-Prince-of-Wales.jpeg\" alt=\"Lockheed Martin F-35B landing on the HMS Prince of Wales\" class=\"wp-image-36581\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Lockheed-Martin-F-35B-landing-on-the-HMS-Prince-of-Wales.jpeg 1000w, https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Lockheed-Martin-F-35B-landing-on-the-HMS-Prince-of-Wales-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Lockheed-Martin-F-35B-landing-on-the-HMS-Prince-of-Wales-768x512.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo: DVIDS<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Current plans are expected to include <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/news\/uk-f35a-nuclear-nato\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"24663\">12 conventional F-35As and 15 STOVL F-35Bs<\/a><\/span><\/strong>. The F-35As would restore the UK\u2019s ability to deliver US-owned B61-12 nuclear gravity bombs under NATO arrangements, although critics argue the RAF is also attracted by the aircraft\u2019s lower operating costs and greater range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The F-35B remains the only carrier-capable variant in British service and forms the core of the UK\u2019s Queen Elizabeth-class carrier strike capability. However, splitting the fleet between F-35A and F-35B would leave Britain with only 62 carrier-capable aircraft unless additional F-35Bs are ordered later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the longer term, the UK still maintains a programme of record for 138 F-35s while also pursuing the <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/news\/tempest-gcap-6th-generation-fighter-jet-what-we-know\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"36265\">next-generation Tempest\/GCAP fighter programme<\/a><\/span><\/strong> alongside Japan and Italy.<\/p>\n\n\n        <div class=\"flex flex-wrap items-center justify-start -mx-2 mt-6\">\n                                    <a href=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/defence-aviation-news\/\"  class=\"btn-stealth  mx-2 my-2  flex items-center flex-row \">\n                                        <span class=\"sr-only\">Get the latest defence aviation news here on AGN.<\/span>\n                    <span>Get the latest defence aviation news here on AGN.<\/span>\n                <\/a>\n                        <\/div>\n        \n\n\n<p><strong><em>Featured Image: Royal Navy<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The prolonged stranding of two newly delivered British F-35Bs in the Azores comes amid mounting scrutiny of UK Lightning fleet readiness, spare parts shortages and delayed future procurement decisions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":37648,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"footnotes":""},"categories":[84,29,14,6],"tags":[116,1950,7537,406,264,265,7663],"class_list":["post-41167","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-defence","category-defence-security","category-most-read","category-trending-articles","tag-lockheed-martin","tag-lockheed-martin-f-35","tag-lockheed-martin-f-35b","tag-raf","tag-royal-air-force","tag-royal-navy","tag-united-kingdom"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Two British F-35Bs have been stranded in the Azores since March<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Two brand new British F-35Bs are stuck in the Azores after troubled delivery flight. 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