The British government said on Tuesday that it would purchase a dozen F-35A fighter jets capable of firing tactical nuclear weapons in what it described as the biggest expansion of its nuclear deterrent in a generation.

The United Kingdom is to purchase 12 F-35A jets, which are capable of carrying nuclear weapons, from the United States. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will make the announcement during Wednesday’s NATO summit,

The jets, a variant of the F35Bs the UK already uses, can carry conventional weapons, but can also be equipped with nuclear bombs