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India Gazette
19 hours ago
- General
- India Gazette
UK F-35B awaits repairs at Thiruvananthapuram airport after engineering issue, says British High Commission
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], June 27 (ANI): A UK F-35B aircraft is currently awaiting repairs at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport after experiencing an engineering issue, a British High Commission spokesperson confirmed. 'A UK F-35B aircraft is awaiting repairs at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport after developing an engineering issue. The UK has accepted an offer to move the aircraft to the Maintenance Repair and Overhaul facility at the airport. The aircraft will be moved to the hangar once UK engineering teams arrive with specialist equipment, thereby ensuring there is minimal disruption to scheduled maintenance of other aircraft,' the spokesperson said. The aircraft is expected to return to active service after the necessary repairs and safety checks are completed. In a statement, the British High Commission added, 'Ground teams continue to work closely with Indian authorities to ensure safety and security precautions are observed. We thank the Indian authorities and Thiruvananthapuram International Airport for their continued support.' British authorities on Thursday expressed gratitude to India following the emergency landing of the British F-35B fighter jet at Thiruvananthapuram airport nearly a fortnight ago. 'We are working to repair the UK F-35B at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport as quickly as possible. We thank the Indian Authorities for their continued support,' the spokesperson said. The UK aircraft was unable to return to UK Aircraft Carrier HMS Prince of Wales due to adverse weather conditions. Prioritising safety, the aircraft diverted to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in India, where it landed safely. While on the ground, the aircraft developed an engineering issue that precluded its return to the Carrier. Engineers from HMS Prince of Wales assessed the situation and determined that assistance from a UK-based engineering team was required. According to the UK High Commission, the aircraft will be relocated to a space in the maintenance repair and overhaul facility hangar once the necessary equipment and personnel arrive. Throughout this diversion incident, the UK has worked in close coordination with Indian authorities. 'Throughout this diversion incident, we have worked closely with all Indian authorities, including the Indian Air Force, Indian Navy and Thiruvananthapuram International Airport and are extremely grateful for their support,' the High Commission said. The statement further highlighted the continued security and organisational support provided by India, underlining the growing cooperation and strong relationship between the armed forces of both nations. Earlier, the Indian Air Force (IAF) confirmed that a British Royal Navy F-35B fighter jet made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram airport on the night of June 14. In a post on X, the IAF stated, '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.' 'On having declared a diversion off an emergency, the F-35B 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,' the IAF added. (ANI)
Mint
20 hours ago
- General
- Mint
UK to move stranded F-35 stealth combat jet to local airport in Kerala for repairs; experts to arrive soon
The F-35B stealth combat jet of the Royal Navy, stranded at Kerela's Thiruvananthapuram airport since 14 June, will be moved to the local maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) facility for repairs, Hindustan Times quoted a British high commission spokesperson as saying. Despite several attempts to fix the £85-million jet, they were unsuccessful. Ever since the F-35B stealth combat jet of the Royal Navy made an emergency landing after reporting low fuel levels, it has been on the tarmac. On 14 June, the bad weather prevented the jet from returning to the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, which was 100 nautical miles off the Kerala coast. Following this, the F-35B jet subsequently developed a hydraulic failure that prevented it from taking off. A British high commission spokesperson said the F-35B jet is awaiting repairs at the Thiruvananthapuram international airport after developing an 'engineering issue'. 'The UK has accepted an offer to move the aircraft to the maintenance repair and overhaul facility at the airport. The aircraft will be moved to the hangar once UK engineering teams arrive with specialist equipment, thereby ensuring there is minimal disruption to scheduled maintenance of other aircraft,' HT quoted the spokesperson as saying. Once repaired, the jet will return to service once repairs and safety checks have been completed, the spokesperson said. 'Ground teams continue to work closely with Indian authorities to ensure safety and security precautions are observed. We thank the Indian authorities and Thiruvananthapuram international airport for their continued support,' the spokesperson added. According to the details, the F-35B jet is part of the carrier strike group accompanying the HMS Prince of Wales. On 14 June, the Indian Air Force (IAF) facilitated the safe landing of the jet and later provided refuelling and logistical support. The jet is now parked at a bay designated for VIP aircraft and is being guarded by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
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Business Standard
21 hours ago
- General
- Business Standard
British fighter jet stranded in Kerala to be repaired at airport hangar
The British High Commission in India said on Friday that a fighter jet of the United Kingdom Royal Navy will be moved to a hangar for repairs at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, Kerala, where it has been parked for the past two weeks. The fifth-generation stealth F-35 Lightning II failed to land on the deck of the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales after encountering bad weather or a technical issue during a sortie on June 14. The fighter jet diverted to Kerala due to contingency arrangements between the armed forces of India and the UK. 'The UK has accepted an offer to move the aircraft to the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility at the airport,' a British High Commission spokesperson said in a media statement from New Delhi. 'The aircraft will return to active service once the repairs and safety checks have been completed. Ground teams continue to work closely with Indian authorities to ensure safety and security precautions are observed,' the statement said. While the peacetime stranding of a foreign fighter jet is rare in India, the F-35—a military asset of a strategic partner—is being guarded by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), the agency responsible for airport security in India. India can provide fuel and logistical support but not repair services for the US-made F-35. International protocols require such military aircraft stranded overseas to be either repaired onsite by authorised personnel or airlifted. The UK warship on which the fighter jet was based is currently deployed in the Indian Ocean region as part of the Royal Navy's months-long Highmast operation.
Economic Times
21 hours ago
- Business
- Economic Times
In a hot fighter-jet market, an F-35 is unable to take off
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 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 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 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.
Indian Express
21 hours ago
- General
- Indian Express
F-35B jet to be moved to MRO facility at Kerala airport: UK
Nearly two weeks after an F-35B 'Lightning' stealth fighter jet of the Royal Navy made an emergency landing at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport and continued to remain grounded, the UK said it has accepted an offer to move the aircraft to the Maintenance Repair and Overhaul facility at the airport. A British High Commission spokesperson said a UK F-35B aircraft is awaiting repairs at the airport after developing an engineering issue. 'The aircraft will be moved to the hangar once UK engineering teams arrive with specialist equipment, thereby ensuring there is minimal disruption to scheduled maintenance of other aircraft,' the spokesperson said, adding that the aircraft will return to active service once repairs and safety checks have been completed. 'Ground teams continue to work closely with Indian authorities to ensure safety and security precautions are observed. We thank the Indian authorities and Thiruvananthapuram International Airport for their continued support,' the spokesperson said. Since the emergency landing of the fighter jet on June 14, it has remained unserviceable. Manufactured by American defence and aerospace major Lockheed Martin and worth over USD 110 million, the F-35B jet is among the most advanced fighter jets in the world. This fighter jet was operating from the British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales. The jet was undertaking a routine sortie outside the Indian Air Defence Identification Zone with Thiruvananthapuram earmarked as an emergency recovery airfield. After that, it could not return to the aircraft carrier after getting caught in adverse weather conditions. According to officials, Royal Navy technicians from the carrier strike group had earlier attempted to repair the F-35B jet, but were unsuccessful. The aircraft had remained stranded at the airport since then. HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Richmond had visited India as part of a UK carrier strike group for naval Passage Exercise (PASSEX) in the north Arabian Sea.
