F-35B, UK stealth jet's flaws exposed as it stays grounded in Kerala for over a month... What's next?
A fighter jet that was once supposed to be invisible, is now a public attraction. Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram Airport, a usual airport is now a place where people and plane spotters come just to spot this unusual sighting. The F-35B, the British Royal Navy's prized asset, which landed in Kerala due to a fuel shortage, has not taken off even a month after the incident and the things that it revealed are completely unexpected.
What about the company behind it?
This jet was made by Lockheed Martin, a name that echoes in every defence corridor, and every military personnel is familiar with. The F-35 fighter aircraft, their flagship product, now lies stranded in a commercial airport. Experts were flown in, engineers were made to work round the clock, yet, nothing changed. The fighter jet still stands alone, in silence.
The problems in the jet? They are not isolated. Reports reveal even the U.S. government is struggling with it and its maintenance. The issue? Many. Hardware does not respond, software requires upgrades which keep getting delayed, the deliveries have slowed, and deadlines missed. Lockheed had to deliver 72 aircrafts by May, could they do it? No.
Can the plan be improved?
There is, it is called TR-3. With promises about bigger displays, stronger computing, and faster reaction time, the plan has brought in high hopes. But with delays mounting, Pentagon had to step in. They withheld funds, held back millions of dollars, and only released partial payments when they saw progress.
What about the current situation?
A deeper issue has been brought to light by the parked aircraft. What is it? It is not about a jet that refuses to fly, it is about the industry under pressure that isn't letting it. A simple problem has gotten complicated, even after having top minds and advanced tools trying to fix it. The problem? It is the hydraulics. Twenty-four specialists are on-site day and night, but failed to fix it. They are helpless, nothing is working.
For India, the situation is sensitive. The stealth technology and classified secrets in the aircraft made U.S. and the British Navy hesitant in moving it indoors. Came monsoon rains, and they were forced to put it in a hangar.
The parked jet, sleek on the outside, but wounded inside has remained there since June 14th. It is a difficult time for Lockheed Martin as the F-35 program makes 30% of their total business. Future orders would shrink if these issues persist and the need to address them is at peak now, as the Trump administration has started reviewing purchase plans for the upcoming year.
The stranded aircraft unintentionally opened the window to a larger story, a story that needs to be told and worked upon. A story that led what was once a symbol of precision, to now being a symbol of pause.
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