F35B Airwing

[Pelican]

809 Naval Air Squadron to deploy operationally next year

The Earl of Minto confirmed that 809 Naval Air Squadron is projected to grow in strength and capability, with an increase in pilots expected to enable the squadron’s first operational deployment in 2025.
In December 2023, 809 Naval Air Squadron joined the RAF’s 617 ‘Dambusters’ as the second, front-line stealth fighter formation, operating the F-35B Lightning.

The information comes from a letter from the Earl of Minto to Lord Lee of Trafford regarding the number of pilots on the F-35 Lightning Force, as raised during an oral question on 809 Naval Air Squadron.

“During the debate on 809 Naval Air Squadron on 11 March 2024, you asked a question about the number of pilots currently manning the F-35 Lightning Force. I am sure you will understand that Lightning Force is a relatively small cadre of personnel with an important frontline role.

With such a small force, we have to carefully balance placing information in Parliament which would enable our adversaries to derive our full military capabilities. Consequently, I cannot provide the number of qualified F-35 Lightning pilots as it would prejudice the capability of the Armed Forces.

However, I can reassure you that the numbers of pilots on the Force are more than sufficient to continue to equip the existing frontline squadron and provide the training requirements for Force growth to reach Full Operating Capability of two frontline squadrons in 2025.

617 Squadron is at its normal operating strength of pilots, and as I gave in the primary answer in the debate, 809 Naval Air Squadron’s force growth, strength and capabilities will continue to increase throughout this and next year as further pilots graduate, as scheduled, from the Operational Conversion Unit. This will enable the first operational deployment of the squadron in 2025.

I hope this explains the position. I am placing a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.”

The Royal Navys said previously that of the more than 100 historic Fleet Air Arm units whose numbers are currently dormant, 809 was selected more than a decade ago as a F-35 Lightning formation, largely due to its illustrious history as a strike and attack squadron having received battle honours from operations in the Arctic, Mediterranean, Burma, Suez and South Atlantic over a 41-year period.

The recommissioning sees the number of UK squadrons operating the Lightning expand to four, two front-line, plus 207 Sqn (Operational Conversion Unit) and 17 Test and Evaluation Sqn.

Source UKDJ

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