Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether there are any contractual requirements that would prevent the UK from withdrawing from the F35 global spare parts pool.

The UK Government does not have a contract with the F-35 global spares pool. The prime contractors for the F-35 programme, [the US companies Lockheed Martin and Pratt & Whitney,] operate the F-35 global spares pool on behalf of the F35 programme, including the destination of specific spares and components.

The F-35 programme is a highly integrated programme, with the principle of cooperation lying at its heart.

If the UK Government were to withdraw from the F-35 global spares pool, it would effectively be withdrawing from the F-35 programme meaning that the UK would not be able to operate its F-35 fleet of aircraft.