 The Squadron fulfills the role of enemy aircraft in air combat training or to provide additional air assets in joint exercises.The F-35B Lightning II is intended to enter service around 2020 under the Joint Combat Aircraft programme.On 19 July 2012 the Defence Secretary, Philip Hammond, in a speech in the US, indicated that the UK would initially receive 48 F-35B to equip the Navy's carrier fleet and would announce at a later date what the final numbers would be.