Under a £135m contract the joint venture will deliver a new aircraft hangar capable of housing 12 of the F-35B Lightning jet aircraft.

The F-35B Lightning aircraft is an advanced, 5th generation jet that the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy will fly from Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers or from operating bases such as RAF Marham.

The project also includes resurfacing two existing runways and taxiways while the station remains operational.

Vertical landing pads will also be added to RAF Marham, accommodating the F-35B’s ability to land vertically, a capability previously covered by the Harrier jets.

The major investment in RAF Marham is the last of seven projects worth £250m undertaken to ready the station for the arrival of the aircraft in 2018.