Defense Secretary: UK has more F35 fast jets than pilots

The UK has more state-of-the-art F-35 fast jets than pilots due to problems with training, said UK defense secretary Ben Wallace, Report informs, citing Express.

The Ministry of Defence only has just over 20 of the £100m warplanes but is unable to man all of them, he said.

Mr. Wallace described the situation as "quite a challenge" when speaking to a committee of peers.

The former Scots Guard captain argued that the lack of pilots was due to the fact that the F-35 Lightning aircraft is new.

Mr. Wallace has admitted that the RAF's flying training has been best by delays. At present, pilots take eight years to qualify rather than the target of two to three years.