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The Royal Air Force (RAF) currently operates fighter squadrons that fly one of two airframes. The primary fighter interceptor is the Eurofighter Typhoon, while the Lockheed Martin F-35 B Lightning II ‘jump jet’ is the Naval Air Arm’s primary fighter. The stealth F-35B also serves the Air Force, and the RAF will be acquiring the F-35A variant for the nuclear deterrence role in the future.
The majority of the military airfields still in use by the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom have a long history that traces back through eras of evolving aviation technology as well as the largest armed conflicts in world history: WWI and WWII. The RAF is a strong ally of the United States and a crucial member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and both hosts international allies at its own bases as well as deploying RAF fighter jets to partner nations in support of allies and to improve interoperability and international relations.
In general, each squadron aims to have a minimum of 12 combat-ready airframes with as many as 16 total at any given time. As a global force, the RAF maintains a strong concentration of forces in the United Kingdom but also maintains a high level of readiness to deploy overseas and respond to the outbreak of conflict around the world. There are also a number of permanent overseas posts that host RAF fighter jets throughout the year.
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RAF Mount Pleasant
4 Fighter Jets
It maintains a permanent, albeit smaller, fighter presence via 1435 Flight, which operates four Typhoon FGR4s to provide air defense for the South Atlantic territories. RAF Mount Pleasant (MPC) is the primary military airbase for the British Forces South Atlantic Islands (BFSAI), located on East Falkland.
Opened in 1985 to bolster the islands’ defenses following the 1982 conflict, it is often nicknamed the ‘Death Star’ by personnel due to its half-mile-long connecting corridor designed to protect them from harsh Antarctic winds. In addition to the fighter jets stationed on the island, there are also support aircraft operated by Flight 1312. There is an Airbus Voyager KC2/3 that performs air-to-air refueling as well as airlift. The support flight also operates an Airbus A400M Atlas C1 for tactical airlift, maritime patrol, and search and rescue duty.
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RAF Akrotiri
15-25 Fighter Jets
Akrotiri is a permanent overseas installation, which is situated in Cyprus, and has a fighter presence on hand for operations in the region. It has lately received reinforcement from F-35B units and normally houses a detachment of about ten Typhoon FGR4s. The UK’s strategic center for operations in the Middle East is this Permanent Joint Operating Base (PJOB). Rising regional tensions have resulted in a large increase in aircraft at the facility as of February 2026.
The No. 903 Expeditionary Air Wing’s primary combat unit, Eurofighters, is permanently stationed at Akrotiri. Operation Shader operations over Iraq and Syria are their primary focus. On February 7, F-35s were pushed forward from RAF Marham in a strictly defensive posture to defend the Sovereign Base Areas (SBA) amid rising tensions between the United States and Iran.
The base also houses a Voyager tanker, which provides support for combat fighters. The No. 84 Squadron operates three helicopters for search and rescue as well as firefighting, and drones are also stationed on the field. As part of Project Olive Harvest, the facility hosts a permanent deployment of US Air Force U-2 Dragon Lady high-altitude surveillance aircraft.
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RAF Marham
30+ Fighter Jets
Marham, Norfolk, is the primary operating base for the UK’s F-35 Lightning force, which is operated jointly by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy. It is currently home to 617 Squadron (The Dambusters), 809 Naval Air Squadron (The Immortals), and the F-35 training unit, 207 Squadron. It is a key location for stealth fighter operations, engineering support, and training.
The base typically houses 20-30 aircraft, though this fluctuates due to production deliveries and overseas deployments. A tranche of 7 new aircraft is currently being delivered, with all expected by April 2026. The aircraft deployed to Cyprus are normally stationed at this base. All 12 of the incoming F-35A variants will be stationed here to support the NATO nuclear-sharing deterrence mission.
The base underwent a major £250m upgrade (Project Anvil) to prepare for the F-35, including specialized stealth maintenance facilities. RAF Marham is home to over 3,600 service personnel, civil servants, and contractors. The base was established in 1916 as a military night landing ground used by the Royal Flying Corps during WWI.
The current airfield was first constructed in 1935 as a station for two heavy bomber squadrons. In the postwar era, RAF Marham frequently hosted American B-29 Superfortresses and later B-50 jet-powered bombers on temporary deployments, according to the RAF Marham Aviation Heritage Centre.
The base was one of the first to become a V-Force site, hosting Vickers and Valiant jet bombers prior to conversion for the first generation of air-to-air refueling platforms. The base was a hub of aerial refueling operations until the last of the V-bombers was retired, and it transitioned to a fighter jet base with the introduction of the Panavia Tornado.
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RAF Lossiemouth
50+ Fighter Jets
RAF Lossiemouth in Moray, Scotland, is one of the UK’s busiest military airbases, serving as the northern hub for Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) and the center of the UK’s maritime patrol capabilities. It hosts four frontline Typhoon squadrons: No. 1, 2, 6, and 9 Squadrons. It serves as the northern hub for QRA missions. As of February 2026, the base is home to 50 to 55 permanent aircraft on average, plus frequent detachments from allied nations.
The Eurofighter jets provide continuous air defense for the north of the UK and regularly deploy for NATO missions, such as Baltic Air Policing. There is a full fleet of nine Boeing P-8A Poseidon MRA1 ‘sub-hunters’ now operational, divided between No. 120 and No. 201 Squadrons. The base frequently hosts US Navy P-8A detachments and has recently hosted F-15 Eagle fighter jets and F-35s for large-scale maneuvers like Exercise Point Blank.
Its position on the Moray coast makes it the primary launch point for intercepting Russian aircraft and monitoring naval activity in the North Atlantic and ‘GIUK Gap’ (Greenland-Iceland-UK). This location is also crucial for the new Boeing E-7 Wedgetail AEW (Airborne Early Warning) fleet that is beginning to arrive at its new home at Lossiemouth. The No. 8 Squadron is scheduled to begin full operations with these aircraft throughout 2026.
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RAF Coningsby
60+ Fighter Jets
RAF Coningsby has a prestigious 85-year history, evolving from a wartime bomber base into the RAF’s premier fighter station and the home of its historic fleet. Alongside Lossiemouth, Coningsby provides 24/7 air defense against unauthorized aircraft entering UK airspace.
In Lincolnshire, this station is the primary QRA post for the south of the UK and serves as the training hub for the entire Eurofighter Typhoon force. As the largest concentration of fighter jets in the RAF, it hosts five Typhoon squadrons, including three frontline units: 3, 11, and 12 Squadrons. The 29 Squadron training unit and the 41 Test and Evaluation Squadron are also based here.
Despite the fact that the F-35 has joined the RAF as the first stealth fighter in the organization’s history, the Typhoon remains the primary fighter platform. In January 2026, the government announced a £205 million support package specifically for the Typhoon fleet based here to ensure they remain mission-ready for overseas operations, according to Lincolnshire World.
RAF Coningsby is also home to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF), which hosts 12 aircraft as a permanent historic aviation unit. The airframes that are maintained in airworthy condition by this preservation group include one Avro Lancaster, six Supermarine Spitfires, two Hawker Hurricanes, one Douglas Dakota, and two de Havilland Chipmunks.
The base first opened in 1940 as a bomber command station. The famous ‘Dambusters’ No. 617 Squadron was stationed at this post in 1943 and 1944. Many aircraft participated in the historic ‘thousand bomber raid’ over Cologne, Germany, in WWII, departing from this airfield for their mission in 1942. The base was one of the first to receive the Canberra fighter jet in 1953 and became a primary V-Force hub soon after.
In the 1960s, RAF Coningsby welcomed the McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR2 supersonic fighter jet. The Panavia Tornado was introduced in the 1980s and served as a crucial multirole platform into the 1990s. Tornadoes fulfilled the nuclear deterrence mission of the UK for decades during the Cold War and went on to fly over 500 missions in the Gulf War. Today, the Eurofighter has taken up the majority of those duties, with the F-35A soon to fulfill the nuclear mission.
