British F-35 fighter jet's surprise stopover in India explained
#F35 #TrivandrumAirport #FighterJet #LockheedMartin #UKRoyalNavy #IndianAirspace #AviationNews #Defence #MilitaryTech #KeralaNews
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Hindustan Times
17 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
How UK's F-35 fighter jet, grounded in Kerala for 20 days, will be dismantled
The British F-35B jet has been grounded in Kerala since June 14, the day it made an emergency landing at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) secures the Royal Navy F-35B fighter jet after its emergency landing, at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport(CISF - X) As efforts to repair the aircraft have not worked so far, the jet will reportedly be dismantled and taken aboard a special transport plane, like the C-17 Globemaster. However, transporting the fifth-generation stealth jet to the United Kingdom would not be a cakewalk. Why the challenge? The C-17 Globemaster is a large military transport aircraft used by the US, the United Kingdom, India and other countries. The aircraft has a cargo bay size big enough to carry multiple troops and can even carry AH-64 Apache attack helicopter. However, it would still be tricky to dismantle the F-35B jet and fit it into the C-17 Globemaster. According to an India Today Digital report, the F-35B jet will have to lose its wings in order to fit into the cargo plane. "The C-17's cargo hold is 26 metres long, but its width is just 4 metres, which means an F-35 cannot be loaded unless the wings are detached," the publication quoted a defence expert as saying. This is not the first time the cargo plane would be transporting a F-35 jet. In 2019, a Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter jet was successfully airlifted from Eglin Air Force Base in Florida to Hill Air Force Base in Utah, according to the Eglin base website. Data breach risks The F-35B jet is worth over $110 million and is known to be one of the most advanced fighter aircraft in the world. Hence, there are data breach risks attached with dismantling such a jet. According to an NDTV report, every screw on the jet will have to be secured with unique codes during the dismantling in order to reduce the risk of a theft of stealth technology. The dismantling can only be carried out by engineers certified by aerospace and defense contractor Lockheed Martin, the publication further said. The British military will closely oversee the dismantling to safeguard the stealth systems. A data breach in this case could expose sensitive combat capabilities. What next for the F-35 jet? The F-35B, which belongs to Britain's Royal Navy, made an emergency landing in Thiruvananthapuram on June 14, and is reportedly being guarded by a six-member team from the HMS Prince of Wales. Even with plans of dismantling, the jet would still need some repairs before it could be transported. For this purpose, a 40-member team of aviation engineers will arrive in Kerala on July 5.
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Time of India
India gets a 'F35' stealth war machine, but it's not a plane and here's what makes it special
Indian armed forces have received F-35 stealth warship, but it's not a fighter jet. The Indian Navy recently received a significant boost to its maritime capabilities with the delivery of Udaygiri , the second stealth frigate under Project 17A, on 1 July 2025 with a Pennant number F35. It is a special moment for the Indian Navy as the warship was handed over by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in a record 37 months, marking a major milestone in India's push for self-reliance in defence manufacturing. Second P-17A Frigate 'Udaygiri' Delivered to Indian Navy Yard 12652 (Udaygiri) is the second of seven multi-mission stealth frigates being constructed under Project 17A, a follow-on of the Shivalik-class (Project 17) currently in service. Designed for blue water operations, the ship is equipped to counter both conventional and non-conventional maritime threats. Construction of the class is underway at MDL, Mumbai, and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata. The warship is 142.5 meter long, 16.9 meter wide, and weighs 6342 tonnes. It has a maximum speed 30 knots. Enhanced Capabilities and Design Improvements Project 17A frigates incorporate enhanced stealth features and a significantly upgraded weapons and sensor suite compared to their predecessors. The hull of the P-17A class is 4.54% larger than the P-17 class and features a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion system with controllable pitch propellers and an Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS). by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Providers are furious: Internet access without a subscription! Techno Mag Learn More Undo The stealth features of Project 17A frigates are achieved through a combination of reduced radar cross section (RCS), noise, and infrared signatures, said Rear Admiral A.K. Saxena, Director, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, in an interview to a news agency. RCS is minimized by modelling the ship's superstructure, reshaping high-reflection areas, and using radar-absorbent or transparent materials, with most weapons vertically launched and deck fittings concealed to present a cleaner profile. Noise reduction focuses on limiting hydrodynamic noise from the hull and propellers, and structure-borne noise from onboard machinery through specialized mounts and acoustic enclosures. Infrared signatures are reduced by lowering exhaust temperatures using the Venturi effect and fluid injection, decreasing heat plume visibility and enhancing survivability. Also Read: Warships, missiles and spy planes: Here's what Rs 1 lakh crore is buying for Indian armed forces Live Events Remaining Ships Under Construction The remaining five frigates of the P-17A class — Dunagiri, Taragiri, Vindhyagiri, and Mahendragiri — are at various stages of construction at MDL and GRSE. All seven ships are scheduled for delivery by the end of 2026. Project 17A stealth frigate Udaygiri Features According to Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited: LR SAM Surface to Air Missiles Eight(8) Vertically launched Surface to Surface Brahmos supersonic cruise missiles Light weight Anti-Submarine Torpedo Indigenous Rocket Launcher (IRL) with FCS IAC-MOD One MR Gun 76 mm main gun Two 30 mm AK 630 rapid fire Guns 12.7 mm rapid-fire close-in weapon system MFSTAR Multi Mission Surveillance Radar Shakti EW SuiteAirborne Early Warning Radar Surface Surveillance Radar Sonar Humsa (NG) Equipped with the following state-of-the-art systems: • Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS) on an independent network interfaced with integrated Bridge System (IBS) & Combat Management System (CMS) for defined data exchange through RS 422 asynchronous link • Integrated Bridge System (IBS) • Combat Management System (CMS) • Advanced Composite Communication Suite (ACCS) • Ship's Databus Network Also Read: Super Su-30: India plans nearly Rs 70,000 crore booster for its main fighter jet. From radars to missiles, here's what it'll get F35 Udaygiri's Legacy and Indigenous Development Udaygiri carries forward the legacy of its namesake, a former steam-powered frigate decommissioned in 2007 after 31 years of service. The new vessel reflects the Indian Navy's growing in-house design capability, led by the Warship Design Bureau, and increasing reliance on indigenous defence manufacturing. "The delivery of Udaygiri showcases the nation's ship design, ship construction, and engineering prowess enabled by a strong industrial ecosystem supported by over 200 MSMEs," an official statement noted. The P-17A programme has resulted in direct employment for around 4,000 personnel and indirect employment for over 10,000 through ancillary industries. The project has driven self-reliance, economic growth, and the expansion of India's defence industrial base.
NDTV
18 hours ago
- NDTV
Was Zuckerberg Asked To Leave Oval Office Meet? Here's What Report Says
Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg was asked to leave the Oval Office during a high-level meeting on the F-47 stealth fighter jets, according to a report. The billionaire was asked to step out, considering the sensitive matter, NBC reported. But another news outlet, quoting a White House official, reported that there was no truth in such claims, adding the situation had been misreported. Zuckerberg briefly stepped in to greet the members at the meeting upon the President's request and then left to wait outside for his scheduled meeting with Donald Trump, which was about to take place after the discussion, The New York Post reported. This was in contrast to NBC's report, which claimed that the Meta CEO walked in unexpectedly during the classified meeting between Mr Trump and senior officials regarding the F-47 stealth fighter jet. According to sources cited by NBC, some officials got worried after seeing the social media magnate's unannounced presence in the meeting room. They feared the lack of proper security clearance and asked him to wait outside. The report added that a young staff member also came in briefly, showed something to Trump on a laptop, and then left. The President's phone also rang a few times during the meeting, it reported. This worried some of the officials, for it was supposed to be a private and secure meeting. They even wondered if those interruptions or phone calls exposed sensitive or secret information. Trump prefers doing things his own way, such as meeting whoever he wants, making spontaneous phone calls, and often inviting people to stay longer than planned, according to NBC. Last month, The NY Post reported that polls showed most Americans don't trust tech billionaires like Mark Zuckerberg when they try to be close to or please the president. A survey done by Tech Oversight Project and Public Policy Polling found that 63 per cent of TRump supporters don't like Mark Zuckerberg, making him the most disliked CEO among big tech companies.
