Defence Secretary: New fighter jets ready for action

The UK's F-35 Lightning stealth fighter jets are ready to be deployed onoperations for the first time, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson hasannounced.

The first of the multimillion-pound aircraft touched down at RAF Marham inNorfolk in June 2018.

Watch the video of their arrival below.

Mr Williamson, speaking at the airbase on Thursday, said that nine F-35s were now ready to be deployed on operations, and that the RAF's Typhoon fleet has been upgraded with a new weapons system.

It comes as the last of the Tornados, in service since 1979, will be retired bythe end of March.

Mr Williamson said:

The Defence Secretary made the announcement in front of four aircraft,including the Tempest concept fighter jet model.

The aim is for a next-generation capability to have initial operationalcapability by 2035. Around 150 UK personnel had been working with the F-35 jets in the US before the first batch of the supersonic aircraft came to the UK.

Watch Rob Setchell's report on the announcement below