25-Member UK Team To Assess Grounded F-35 Jet In Kerala Tomorrow
A team of around 25 British aviation engineers is expected to arrive in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday to assess F-35B fighter jet of Britain's Royal Navy, weeks after the aircraft was grounded following an emergency landing at the airport.
According to a report by Indian Today citing sources, the 25-member team would arrive in Kerala on Sunday, examine the fault in the parked aircraft and would decide if the fighter jet can be repaired in India or needs to be ferried back to the UK.
The team was earlier scheduled to arrive in Kerala on July 2, however, the visit was postponed for unknown reasons, news agency PTI reported, citing sources.
The fighter jet is currently parked at a bay in Thiruvananthapuram Airport and is being guarded by a six-member team from the British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales. India had offered to assist in repairing the F-35 of the British Royal Navy in the closest MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Operations) facility. A spokesperson from the British High Commission said the plane is waiting for repairs. The UK has agreed to move the jet to the airport's MRO facility.
The F-35B jet, owned by Britain's Royal Navy, might need to be dismantled for transport or flown out in one piece using a large special aircraft like the C-17 Globemaster.
The jet, worth over $110 million, is one of the most advanced fighter planes in the world. The aircraft was conducting operations 100 nautical miles off the coast of Kerala when it made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram airport on June 14 due to a technical problem.
The Indian Air Force extended all possible support for rectifying the issue and ensuring its return. However, when the fighter jet was preparing to return to its carrier, a hydraulic failure was detected during pre-departure checks. A small Royal Navy team attempted to repair the malfunction but was unsuccessful.
The aircraft is parked at Bay 4 of Thiruvananthapuram airport under Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) protection since then.
The F-35B is the only fifth-generation fighter jet with short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) capabilities, making it suitable for small decks, austere bases, and ships.
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Time of India
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- Time of India
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Time of India
an hour ago
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News18
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