https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/uk-e...-srvl-upgrade/
UK explains delay to F-35B SRVL upgrade
The Ministry of Defence has moved to clarify the status of the Shipborne Rolling Vertical Landing system for the UK’s F-35B Lightning II jets, after a series of written questions from Conservative MP James Cartlidge.
The UK Defence Journal understands that the capability has been delayed rather than cancelled, despite wording in the 2024 to 25 defence accounts that triggered reports suggesting it had been abandoned.
Across three separate answers, Defence Minister Luke Pollard restated that the SRVL system remains in development and that equipment already installed on HMS Prince of Wales is unaffected. Pollard said the system underwent initial trials in 2023 and that a commercial partner is still examining the results.
“The results of those trials continue to be analysed by a commercial partner, and when complete will enable the Ministry of Defence to make an accurate assessment of the benefits and cost of further developing the SRVL system for operational use,” he told Parliament…..
The confusion stemmed from an entry on page 140 of the MoD’s annual accounts describing a “SRVL upgrade cancellation” of about £300,000. Pollard said this referred only to the planned fitment of SRVL equipment to HMS Queen Elizabeth in 2025.
“The SRVL upgrade cancellation listed on p.140 of the MoD Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25 refers only to the fitment of SRVL equipment to HMS Queen Elizabeth in 2025,” Pollard wrote. “There is no impact to the equipment already fitted to Prince of Wales, and the MOD retains the ability to fit such equipment to Queen Elizabeth when the outcome of trials in 2023 are fully understood.”
Pollard repeated that the decision reflected a resource judgement rather than a reversal of policy. “This represents a Defence Choice; weighing up costs and benefits to prioritise the MOD’s resources effectively,” he said when asked what the term meant.
The clarification aligns with earlier statements on 25 November 2025, when ministers confirmed that SRVL “has not been cancelled” and that the schedule was being re-profiled to align with wider weapons-integration work….