UAV/UCAV technology to Influence U.K. F-35C Buy

A senior British defense official has said that development of next generation combat UAVs along with the health of the Royal Air Force’s current fighter fleet will be key factors in determining how many F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters the United Kingdom will buy. The UK plans to swap 138 F-35B STOVL aircraft for an unspecified number of F-35C carrier-based JSFs.