World's most expensive fighter jet is still grounded in India due to…, cost is…; belongs to this country's Navy
World's most expensive fighter jet is still grounded in India due to…, cost is…; belongs to this country's Navy
An F-35B fighter jet of the British Royal Navy, part of the UK's HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group, was forced to make an emergency landing at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in Kerala.
By Gazi Abbas Shahid
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The British Navy's F-35B is being guarded by CISF at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in Kerala. (Source: X)
F-35B fighter jet: A US-made F-3B stealth fighter jet of the British Royal Navy– one of the world's most expensive warplanes– made an emergency landing at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in Kerala on Saturday, and remains grounded there for more than 72 hours. According to reports, the fighter jet, which is part of the UK's HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group, was forced to make an emergency landing at the airport due to low fuel.
British F-35B fighter jet grounded at Kerala airport
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is handling the matter, but a formal update on the F-35B fighter is awaited, according to Indian Defence PRO and Thiruvananthapuram airport officials. 'The IAF is fully aware and facilitated the aircraft for flight safety reasons. All assistance is being given, and the IAF is in coordination with all agencies,' said an IAF spokesperson.
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As per officials, the fighter jet as launched from HMS Prince of Wales (R09)– the British Royal Navy's flagship aircraft carrier– about 100 nautical miles from the Indian coast in the Indo-Pacific region, where the HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group is currently operating, after conducting a series of joint exercises with the Indian Navy.
Why F-35B was forced to land at Thiruvananthapuram Airport?
After launch, the British fighter aircraft was unable to land due to inclement weather conditions in the region, and subsequently, the pilot contacted Air Traffic Control on an international distress frequency, seeking an emergency landing. The ATC diverted the aircraft to the Thiruvananthapuram Airport at 9:30 pm on Saturday, where it remains grounded, officials said.
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Day after its emergency landing, the pilots of the British warplane were flown back to the HMS Prince of Wales aboard a AW101 Merlin helicopter, indicating that the fighter jet may take a while to be ready for operational use. The IAF has termed the incident a 'normal occurrence of diversion by F-35.'
The F-35B currently remains parked in the General Aviation terminal of the Thiruvananthapuram Airport under the watch of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel, and requires IAF clearance before flying back, as per officials.
How much does the F-35B cost?
Developed by US arms maker Lockheed Martin, the F-35B is a custom variant of the F-35 operated by the British Royal Navy, and reportedly cost up to $109 million per unit. The 5th-generation stealth fighter features an advanced stealth made of radar-absorbing materials, internal weapons bays, and precisely aligned surfaces, making it extremely difficult for air defense systems and radars to detect.
The F-35B, which measures 51.2 feet in length and 14.3 feet in height, with a 35-foot wingspan, is capable of reaching speeds of up to Mach 1.6, even when carrying a full internal payload of 6800 kg. It can weigh up to 60,000 pounds at takeoff.
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