Three more stealth fighters have joined the F-35 Lightning Force at a Norfolk air base.

Their arrival brings the total number of the fifth generation aircraft at RAF Marham to 30.

After a defence review in 2015, the UK government said it would buy a total of 138 of the £88m aircraft, which are built by US aircraft manufacturers Lockheed Martin and Northrop Gruman, as well as UK-based BAE systems. 

The 1,200mph warplanes are operated jointly by the RAF and Royal Navy, and are flown by 617 'Dambusters' Squadron and 207 Sqn. A further unit, 809 Naval Air Sqn, is due to form next year.

Lightnings are designed to operate as part of a carrier strike group which includes the navy's flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth. 

RAF News reports the ship and Lightnings from Marham are currently taking part in Operation Achillean, a "massive show of force" alongside NATO allies in the North Sea.