Number of UK's F-35s grows as three more jets join fleet

The UK Armed Forces have welcomed three more F-35B Lightning jets.

The aircraft will join Britain's Lightning fleet at RAF Marham, Norfolk.

It takes the UK's total of F-35s to 24 – with 21 based domestically and three stationed in the US.

• F-35B: What you need to know about the Lightning jet
• Inside the simulator prepping F-35 Lightning II pilots
• The numbers behind the Lightning jet

F-35s are deployed on HMS Queen Elizabeth during the Carrier Strike Group 21 (CSG21) deployment and have been used on Operation Shader – the UK's fight against so-called Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

Last month, the UK's F-35B fleet reached the milestone of 10,000 flight hours. 

Watch: Timeline of the UK's F-35B fighter fleet as it hit 10,000 flight hours mark.