24-member UK expert team in Kerala to inspect grounded British F-35B fighter jet
A Royal Air Force Atlas transport aircraft touched down at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport at 12.46 p.m. on Sunday, carrying a 24-member technical team comprising 14 engineers and 10 crew members.
The arrival of the team follows mounting speculation and intense media scrutiny over the fate of the advanced fifth-generation jet, which has been parked at bay number four of the airport's domestic terminal since June 14. The aircraft was forced to land due to technical malfunctions, compounded by adverse weather conditions over the Indian Ocean during its deployment.
According to flight tracking data, the RAF transport aircraft carrying experts left Brize Norton airbase in Oxfordshire -- one of the largest RAF stations -- on July 4, before stopping over at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus and Seeb International Airport in Oman. It commenced its final leg from Muscat on Sunday morning and reached Kerala by afternoon.
The expert team will conduct a thorough inspection of the jet and assess the feasibility of conducting on-site repairs at its current location. If necessary, the aircraft may be towed to a hangar facility within the airport premises for more extensive work.
Sources indicated that dismantling the jet's wings and tail for airlifting it back to the UK or US would be a last resort if other repair options prove unviable. A final decision will be made following the inspection.
Meanwhile, the prolonged grounding of the stealth aircraft has triggered considerable public curiosity and social media frenzy in India, with memes and conspiracy theories gaining traction amid the silence from defence officials.
British authorities have consistently maintained that the aircraft can be restored to operational status in Kerala following repairs and mandatory safety checks. However, the delay in dispatching the technical team had fuelled uncertainty over the jet's future.
With the arrival of the engineers, clarity is now expected in the coming days on whether the aircraft will return to the skies from Indian soil -- or be flown home for more comprehensive servicing.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
40 minutes ago
- News18
Aging Fleet, Maintenance Woes, Low Morale: Pakistan Navy Faces Crisis After Op Sindoor
Last Updated: Sources said following Operation Sindoor, Pakistan's naval fleet has been notably absent from the strategic waters of the Arabian Sea The Pakistan Navy is facing a deep crisis in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, with an aging fleet, low morale, and limited submarines reflective of the growing strain amid India's rising naval edge. Pakistan's naval fleet has been notably absent from the strategic waters of the Arabian Sea, sources told News18. Open-source reports and maritime tracking data have revealed a troubling pattern – the majority of the navy's principal surface combatants remain pier-side at Karachi naval base. #BreakingNews | Post-Operation Sindoor, Pakistan Navy faces deep crisis—aging fleet, low morale, and limited submarines reflect growing strain amid India's rising naval edge. @kaidensharmaa with @JamwalNews18 | #operationsindoor #Pakistan — News18 (@CNNnews18) July 7, 2025 Experts have primarily attributed this to limited repair capabilities and shipyard failures, compounded by a leadership crisis and low morale following Operation Sindoor, under which the Indian armed forces struck terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 . According to sources, Pakistan has only two operational submarines at present, with the rest being inactive and berthed at naval facilities. Not only that, training opportunities in the navy have become increasingly limited as operational vessels remain unavailable for extended periods, the sources said. The sources said young officers complete their naval academy training only to find themselves assigned to ships that spend months in maintenance status. This has created a generation of naval officers with limited sea-going experience, further undermining operational competence, they said. WHY IS THERE A MAINTENANCE LIMBO? Sources said maintenance delays, unavailability of critical spare parts, and inadequate technical training from manufacturers have hampered Pakistan's operational readiness. Here's why: An aging fleet lies at the heart of these maintenance woes. Many of Pakistan's principal surface combatants – Type-21 frigates acquired from the Royal Navy in the 1990s – are operating well beyond their intended service lives. These vessels require frequent and costly maintenance cycles, with spare parts becoming scarce and expensive as original manufacturers have phased out support for legacy systems. The situation is further complicated by Pakistan's diversified procurement strategy. This has resulted in a fleet comprising Chinese, Turkish, American, and British-origin vessels. Due to this, each platform requires specialised maintenance protocols, unique spare parts inventories, and distinct technical expertise. This logistical complexity has overwhelmed the navy's maintenance infrastructure, creating bottlenecks that keep vessels tied to ports for extended periods. Chinese-origin vessels present particular challenges. The much-vaunted Type-054A frigates, delivered between 2021 and 2023, have experienced recurring technical issues with their radar systems and propulsion plants, requiring frequent returns to shipyard facilities. Financial constraints have exacerbated the maintenance crisis. The shipyard's limitations became apparent during recent attempts to service the Type-054A frigates. These Chinese-origin vessels require specialised diagnostic equipment and proprietary software that the Karachi shipyard lacks. Attempts to establish repair partnerships with Chinese firms have been hampered by technology transfer restrictions and exorbitant costs, leaving many vessels in an extended maintenance limbo. WHAT ARE THE STRATEGIC IMPLICATIONS? Sources further said the Pakistan Navy's current operational limitations have strategic implications for regional security dynamics. Here's why: The neighbouring country's inability to maintain a credible naval presence in the Arabian Sea creates a vacuum. The Indian Navy has, therefore, expanded its patrol patterns and exercise schedules, effectively treating Pakistani waters as uncontested space. Chinese investments in Gwadar Port and associated infrastructure lose much of their strategic value if Pakistan cannot provide adequate naval security. The situation also affects Pakistan's relationship with its allies and partners. Scheduled multilateral exercises have been postponed or cancelled due to vessel unavailability, damaging its reputation as a reliable naval partner. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : indian navy Operation Sindoor Pahalgam attack Location : Islamabad, Pakistan First Published: July 07, 2025, 18:05 IST
The Print
42 minutes ago
- The Print
Repairs begin on British Navy's stranded F-35B fighter in Kerala after 24-day wait
'A team of UK engineers has arrived in India to commence repairs on the UK F35B aircraft,' British High Commission's defence adviser Commodore Chris Saunders said Monday in a post on X. 'Repairs are underway on the aircraft, which has now been moved to the maintenance hangar. We are grateful for the continued support and collaboration of the Indian authorities.' The team was flown in on a Royal Air Force (RAF) A400M Atlas military transport aircraft to carry out the repair works. New Delhi: Over three weeks after a hydraulic snag grounded the UK's F-35B stealth fighter, a British engineering team began work on the jet that is now towed to a designated maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) hangar in Thiruvananthapuram airport. The team of around 25 technical experts had arrived over the weekend and the engineers will now assess whether the F-35B can be repaired on site or if it will need to be dismantled and transported back to the UK. The British High Commission also released a statement Sunday, confirming the deployment of a UK engineering team to the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport 'to assess and repair the UK F-35B aircraft, which landed following an emergency diversion.' 'The UK has accepted India's offer to use the MRO facility at the airport and is working with relevant authorities to finalise arrangements,' the statement added. 'In line with standard procedure, the aircraft will be moved following the arrival of UK engineers, who are carrying specialist equipment necessary for the movement and repair process.' As reported earlier by ThePrint, the F-35B had been operating from HMS Prince of Wales, the Royal Navy's aircraft carrier, which had recently concluded joint exercises with the Indian Navy. The aircraft was flying outside India's Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) when it diverted to Thiruvananthapuram due to adverse weather and low fuel. It was detected and cleared to land by the Indian Air Force's Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS). Preliminary assessments have indicated that the stealth fighter may have experienced fuel starvation during its final approach, potentially damaging components crucial to its vertical landing system. More broadly, failures in the hydraulic system can severely impact the jet's control surfaces, landing gear, braking and, most importantly, its vertical lift capabilities. Notably, a report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) within the US Department of Defense had flagged in 2024 that the F-35 programme's global sustainment challenges, pointing out that major component repairs, hydraulics included, took an average of 141 days. The delays were attributed to global supply chain bottlenecks, limited maintenance capacity, and shortages of spare parts in the report. (Edited by Tony Rai) Also Read: From Qatar to Bahrain, mapping US military presence in Middle East as US enters Israel-Iran conflict
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
'Repairs are underway': F-35B grounded in Thiruvananthapuram moved to hangar; UK thanks India for support
UK F35B aircraft (Image Credit: X/UK defence in India) NEW DELHI: The United Kingdom's Royal Navy F-35B fighter aircraft, which has remained grounded at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport since June 14 following an emergency landing, has been moved to the maintenance hangar, and the repair work is underway. The UK defence in India, in a post on X, thanked the Indian authorities for the support and collaboration. The aircraft F-35B had made an emergency landing during adverse weather conditions over the Indian Ocean approximately three weeks ago, as confirmed by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD). British engineers have arrived in India via a Royal Air Force (RAF) Airbus A400M Atlas and conducted repairs on the grounded aircraft, which has remained at the airport since June 14. "UPDATE: A team of UK engineers has arrived in India to commence repairs on the UK F-35 B aircraft. Repairs are underway on the aircraft, which has now been moved to the maintenance hangar. We are grateful for the continued support and collaboration of the Indian authorities," stated the UK MoD. The advanced aircraft, operated by the British Navy, landed in Thiruvananthapuram after failing to return to HMS Prince of Wales in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The Indian Air Force (IAF) subsequently confirmed the airport's designation as an emergency recovery facility. The IAF posted on X: "A Royal Navy F-35B fighter recovered off an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on the night of 14 June 25. Operating from UK Aircraft Carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, it was undertaking routine flying outside Indian ADIZ with Thiruvananthapuram earmarked as the emergency recovery airfield." Initial repair attempts by HMS Prince of Wales engineers proved unsuccessful after the aircraft experienced hydraulic issues during refuelling. Subsequently, 25 technical specialists from the British Royal Air Force arrived with specialised equipment to assess and repair the aircraft, which has been relocated to the Air India Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility.
