A team of British military engineers arrived at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on Sunday. They brought specialised equipment to repair an F-35B stealth combat jet of the Royal Navy. The jet has been stranded at the facility in Kerala since it made an emergency landing on June 14. According to the flight data details, the RAF Airbus A400M departed RAF Brize Norton on July 4. It made refuelling stops at Akrotiri (Cyprus) and Seeb (Oman). The aircraft landed in Kerala on July 6.
The F-35B, capable of short take-off and vertical landing, is designed for operations from aircraft carriers and forward bases. The aircraft, part of the UK Royal Navy’s HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group, made an unscheduled landing due to an “engineering issue,” according to a British High Commission statement. The advanced fifth-generation stealth jet, valued at over $110 million, has since been stationed at Bay 4, designated for VIP aircraft, under 24×7 CISF guard.
On Thursday, the British High Commission said in a statement to the BBC: “The UK has accepted an offer to move the aircraft to the Maintenance Repair and Overhaul facility at the airport. It 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 aircraft will return to active service once repairs and safety checks have been completed,” it added. “Ground teams continue to work closely with Indian authorities to ensure safety and security precautions are observed.”
The jet was shifted to the airport’s Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility on Sunday after the team of 25 engineers arrived aboard a Royal Air Force Airbus A400M to repair the jet. Airport officials and local agencies are providing logistical support to the visiting team, including meals and accommodation. The Indian Air Force is assisting with the repair efforts and overall coordination.
Thiruvananthapuram is a designated emergency diversion site for British military aircraft operating in the region. According to sources, the pilot and technical crew were moved to the airport’s Emergency Medical Centre after landing.
A preliminary assessment by UK engineers on board HMS Prince of Wales indicated that repairs could not be conducted on the carrier and would require support from specialists flown in from the UK. Earlier this month, the HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group had participated in joint exercises with the Indian Navy.
More about F-35B
- The F-35B is the only 5th Generation fighter with short takeoff and vertical landing capabilities, making it ideal for operating from smaller decks, austere bases and ships without full-length runways.
- It can reach speeds of Mach 1.6 while carrying a full internal payload, demonstrating impressive performance in combat and operational scenarios.
- Aircraft features unmatched stealth capabilities, including radar-absorbing materials, aligned edges and an internal weapons bay, making it nearly invisible to enemy radar.
- Its onboard sensors create an integrated battlefield picture, allowing pilots to detect, track and neutralize threats before being detected themselves.
- The F-35 B’s helmet-mounted display system projects critical mission data directly onto the pilot’s visor, including target information, flight data, and night vision.
- Thanks to its STOVL capability, the F-35B is deployed by the U.S. Marine Corps, UK Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, and other international allies, enabling operations from aircraft carriers, assault ships, and remote airfields.
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