Critics of jet fighters will be silenced, says top pilot

Critics of Britain’s new multi-million stealth fighter jets would be “quietened very quickly” if they knew what they are capable of, the UK’S lead test pilot has said.

The F-35 Lightning II will undertake missions from HMS Queen Elizabeth, the nation’s £3 billion behemoth aircraft carrier.

Royal Air Force Squadron Leader Andy Edgell has been testing the warplane with a top speed of 1,200mph.

“It is an incredibly, incredibly powerful aircraft and I am not talking about thrust, (but) the capabilities it brings to the battle space,” he said.

“The disappointing thing is I can’t share all the details ... I do think a lot of the critics would be quietened very quickly.” The £9.1 billion programme to buy 48 of the F-35s has come under fire over capability and expense.