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Nearly three weeks after a British Royal Navy F-35B stealth fighter made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, the United Kingdom has formally accepted the use of a local Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility to address the aircraftтАЩs technical issues.
British officials are currently coordinating with Indian authorities to finalize the necessary arrangements.
The advanced jet, part of the UKтАЩs carrier strike group deployed on HMS Prince of Wales, was diverted to Kerala on June 14 due to adverse weather conditions and, possibly low fuel levels. Since then, the fifth-generation aircraft has remained grounded, drawing international attention and triggering widespread speculation.
In an official statement, a British High Commission spokesperson confirmed the deployment of a UK engineering team to the site.
тАЬA UK engineering team has deployed to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport to assess and repair the UK F-35B aircraft, which landed following an emergency diversion,тАЭ the spokesperson said.
тАЬThe UK has accepted the offer of a space in the Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility, and are in discussions to finalise arrangements with relevant authorities. 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.
The UK remains very grateful for the continued support and collaboration of the Indian authorities and airport teams.тАЭ
Though initial repair efforts by Royal Navy personnel were unsuccessful, a second engineering contingentтАФreportedly around 40 specialistsтАФis set to arrive in Kerala by July 5. This team will carry advanced diagnostic tools and equipment to assess whether the jet can be made airworthy on-site.
British defence sources have clarified that dismantling the F-35B for transport aboard a C-17 Globemaster remains a contingencyтАФnot a confirmed course of action.
The disassembly of such a highly advanced aircraft poses significant logistical and security hurdles, particularly concerning the protection of sensitive stealth technology. If disassembly proceeds, it would be executed exclusively by Lockheed Martin-certified engineers under strict protocols.
The aircraft is under round-the-clock guard by IndiaтАЩs Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) alongside Royal Navy personnel, with all movements tightly controlled.
The Indian Air Force revealed that its Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) tracked the aircraft over the Arabian Sea, stirring debate over the F-35тАЩs much-touted radar evasion capabilities. While experts note that the fighter is extremely difficult to detect, they caution against assumptions of complete invisibilityтАФespecially in unfamiliar operational environments.
For now, all eyes remain on Thiruvananthapuram as the UKтАЩs engineering team prepares for a crucial assessment.
Team BharatShakti
