The British F-35B fighter jet that made an emergency landing in Kerala could not be repaired, so now preparations are underway to break it into pieces and send it back to Britain.
The British Royal Navy's F35 Lightning II fighter jet, which made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport (Kerala) on June 14, 2024, is still parked at the airport. The Rs 918 crore (about $110 million) fifth-generation stealth fighter jet needs repairs due to technical glitches.
Key points:
1. Unexpected landing:
The jet was on an Indo-Pacific mission with the HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier and had to make an emergency landing in Thiruvananthapuram after completing a joint exercise with the Indian Navy.
2. Repair challenges:
An engineering team from Britain attempted to make the jet airworthy again, but the repair was unsuccessful due to a critical fault in the F35B's sensitive STOVL (short takeoff/vertical landing) system.
3. Return plan:
The British Royal Air Force (RAF) will now disassemble the jet and fly it back to the UK using a large military cargo aircraft (such as the C17 Globemaster III). The process will require spare parts and specialized equipment.
4. F35B features:
STOVL capability: Can land on vertical/short runways, ideal for aircraft carriers.
Stealth technology: Less visible to radar.
Cost: Each F35B costs ~$110 million (900+ crore in Indian rupees).
5. Relationship with India:
The incident highlights India-UK defence cooperation. The British Navy is currently increasing its presence in the Indo-Pacific, and its closeness with the Indian Navy has strengthened.
Next steps:
The jet will be safely disassembled and shipped to the UK by the RAF.
Lockheed Martin (the manufacturer) will investigate the underlying fault.
The incident will spark a debate on the logistics and support systems of the F35B.
As part of international cooperation, Indian officials have assisted in the process. Such incidents involving the F35 are rare, but they highlight the complexity of the high-tech military equipment.
Article published | Thu | 03 Jul 2025 | 8:25 PM