Builders On Track To Get RAF Marham Ready For The F-35

RAF commanders and civilian contractors are confident that building and upgrading the facilities at RAF Marham for the arrival of the F-35B Lighting II is progressing well.

Project Anvil is costing £250 million and is employing 1200 contractors across nine different sites to build new hangars and resurface runways.

“Some of these building have been here since the 1930s - We need to upgrade and prepare ourselves for the next generation of aircraft”

The National Operating Centre, which will house the new headquarters for the F-35 is on track to be the first building ready by Christmas 2017.

Pilots from the RAF and Royal Navy have been training on the F-35B in the United States. 617 Squadron will be the first British unit to fly the jet when they return to Britain in 2018.

617 Squadron will fly from both land and sea, from RAF Marham and the new Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers.

The new base and it's jets is scheduled to be operational by early 2019 for deployment anywhere in the world.