In a hot fighter-jet market, an F-35 is unable to take off

Economic Times

2 days ago

PTI A CISF personnel stand guard near the British F-35 fighter jet that made an emergency landing after running low on fuel at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport
The fighter jet business is brisk today due to geopolitical urgency, defence budget surges, aging fleets, breakthrough technologies and expanding global competition. Countries are aggressively modernising their air power. Recent geopolitical crises -- between India-Pakistan and Israel and Iran -- have accelerated a wave of military modernisation. NATO has announced a 5% defence spending target which would open up a vast new defence market.
Amid all this, the world's most superior fighter jet, F-35, built by America's Lockheed Martin, is getting a bit of bad press. An F-35B Lightning jet of the British Royal Navy has been stranded at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in Kerala for nearly two weeks after it was forced to make an emergency landing. On June 14, during a joint naval exercise in the Arabian Sea, the F-35B, operating from HMS Prince of Wales, attempted to land back on the carrier but couldn't due to adverse weather and low fuel and was diverted by the Indian Air Force to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, an emergency recovery field. The jet reportedly developed a snag in its hydraulic system which is critical for its vertical takeoff capability, a defining ability of F-35B.
A small maintenance team from Prince of Wales, arriving by helicopter post-landing, attempted repairs on-site but couldn't resolve the fault. Now, a special towing equipment is being flown in from the UK to move it to the hangar where dozens of British and American experts will work on it. If it still fails to take off, it will probably be transported to the UK in a cargo plane. The stranded F-35B triggered a lot of mirth on social media when its pilot reportedly refused to leave the tarmac, probably to guard the jet against any possible attempt to scan its technology. While the pilot reportedly left the tarmac after a few hours, the jet still sits in the open. As per a media report, the Royal Navy is said to have turned down an offer to move the warplane to a hangar, where it can't be watched with a satellite, because it does not want the Indians, or potentially a third party, to get a closer look at its technology. A statement issued by the Indian AIr Force, when the F-35 had landed, also led to speculation about the stealth capability of the jet. 'On having declared a diversion off an emergency, the F35B was detected and identified by the IAF's IACCS network and cleared for the recovery. IAF is providing all necessary support for the rectification and subsequent return of the aircraft," IAF said. Many on social media said that the IAF claiming to have "detected" the F-35B meant Indian radars beat its stealth capability.
The peculiar situation of the F-35B might be embarrassing for its maker Lockheed Martin and the US. Early this year, during a visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Washington, President Donald Trump had announced at a joint press conference that the US was willing to sell F-35 jets to India. "We're paving the way to ultimately provide India with the F-35 stealth fighters," Trump said. A stranded jet failing to take off after several attempts and rounds of repair can impact demand for the jet just when several countries around the world are trying to acquire more air power and competitors are also in the fray. The stranded F-35B may have got a lot of media attention in India, but global defense procurement decisions rely on deep technical assessments. Yet a malfunction which has not been resolved by dozens of experts for two weeks will surely raise eyebrows.
F-35: Still the global leader, but no longer unchallenged
The F-35 remains the most prolific and technologically advanced fifth-generation fighter jet in service around the world. With stealth, sensor fusion and global interoperability, it still commands strong demand. But its once-undisputed supremacy is increasingly being tested by budget constraints, shifting strategic alliances and the emergence of credible alternatives from Europe and Asia.
Despite being the most successful stealth fighter ever produced, the F-35 is facing growing scrutiny. The US Department of Defense, which anchors the F-35 programme, cut its planned purchase to just 47 jets in the fiscal year 2026, down from over 80 a year prior. The decision reflects a growing pivot toward autonomous weapons and long-range missile systems. This sends a signal that the F-35 may no longer be the centerpiece of every future air force. Yet, internationally, the jet still enjoys robust momentum. Its track record, compatibility with NATO infrastructure, and ongoing upgrades ensure that many countries continue to see the F-35 as the safest and most capable choice for the next two decades.The F-35 remains the go-to platform for a range of Western and allied air forces. The UK confirmed the purchase of 12 additional F-35A variants. These will support the UK's goal of restoring a NATO-compatible nuclear strike capability, supplementing its earlier F-35B buys for carrier operations. Germany is expanding its F-35 fleet. Portugal, Romania and the Czech Republic are all actively pursuing or finalizing F-35 acquisition programmes, positioning the aircraft as the backbone of NATO's next-generation air defense network in Eastern and Southern Europe.Canada is reevaluating its 88-jet order. While 16 have been funded and are moving forward, the newly installed government under Prime Minister Mark Carney is reconsidering the full order in light of rising costs, supply chain dependency and a growing desire for industrial sovereignty. Alternatives like the Eurofighter Typhoon, Rafale and Saab Gripen are being considered, but a full cancellation is still uncertain. Finland, Poland, Norway, and Switzerland, which made earlier commitments, continue to integrate the F-35 into their forces.While the F-35 remains dominant in terms of global reach and capability, the number of viable competitors is increasing, particularly in regions looking for lower-cost or politically neutral alternatives. Dassault Rafale has emerged as the most successful 4.5-generation fighter, with strong export sales to India, Egypt, the UAE, Qatar and Indonesia. It lacks stealth but offers excellent multirole flexibility and attractive industrial offset packages. Eurofighter Typhoon continues to appeal to European buyers who want to keep production and maintenance inside the EU. Turkey, after being excluded from the F-35 programme, is now pursuing up to 40 Typhoons while simultaneously developing its own fifth-generation aircraft.
Russia's Sukhoi Su-57 is another competitor. Algeria is a confirmed buyer while Russia has made an offer to India. India is said to have considered both Su-57 and F-35 but for now it is focusing on building its own stealth jet. Egypt, several Gulf countries, Vietnam and Malaysia have shown interest in Su-57 but there are no orders yet. Saab Gripen E is a low-cost, high-agility fighter that has found renewed interest in Southeast Asia. Its open-architecture systems and minimal dependency on US tech have made it attractive to countries like the Philippines and Canada. South Korea's KF-21 Boramae, now entering limited production, straddles the 4.5 to fifth-generation line. Its mix of stealthy design and affordability is drawing attention from countries like Malaysia, Peru, and possibly, the UAE.
Turkey's KAAN, a true fifth-generation stealth jet, became a serious F-35 competitor in June when Indonesia signed a $10 billion deal for 48 aircraft. Unlike the F-35, KAAN offers co-production and some technology transfer, tapping into a desire among developing countries for more industrial participation. China's J-10C and rumored exports of the J-35 are also in the conversation for countries outside the Western sphere. Pakistan, though denying a J-35 deal, is likely evaluating these platforms as a hedge against India's Western-equipped air force. Technologically, the F-35 still leads. It offers true stealth, a global logistics network, unmatched sensor fusion, and integration with NATO's broader defense ecosystem. But it's not invulnerable. Rising costs, reliance on US-controlled software and spare parts, and concerns over potential 'kill-switch' mechanisms have raised red flags with some buyers. Countries increasingly want sovereignty, not just in military capabilities, but in data, maintenance and supply chains too. This makes jets like the Rafale, Gripen, KF-21 and KAAN more appealing, particularly when they come with industrial offsets and fewer political strings.