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The Independent
07-07-2025
- General
- The Independent
Repairs finally begin on British fighter jet stuck in India
A Royal Navy F-35B fighter jet is finally undergoing repairs after more than three weeks stuck at an airport in southern India. Britain's High Commission in India said engineers had reached Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in Kerala, and that the stranded Lightning jet had been moved to a hangar. 'UPDATE: A team of UK engineers has arrived in India to commence repairs on the UK F35B aircraft. Repairs are underway on the aircraft, which has now been moved to the maintenance hangar. We are grateful for the continued support and collaboration of the Indian authorities,' the British High Commission in India said in a statement. The F-35B Lightning jet encountered bad weather on 14 June while flying about 100 nautical miles off the coast of Kerala in southern India and was unable to return to its aircraft carrier. The pilots of the aircraft instead asked for permission for an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram. The jet's extended stay in India has become a source of growing speculation about whether it constitutes a security risk, with the jet packed full of state-of-the-art stealth technology to which India does not currently have access. It also sparked a widely-shared meme from the Kerala tourist board. 'UK F-35B: Kerala is such an amazing place, I don't want to leave. Definitely recommend,' the ad read, showing the fighter jet reviewing the state with five stars. As it awaited repairs, six crew members from the F-35B stayed at the airport working in shifts to keep a close eye on the fighter jet around the clock, according to the airport authorities. British officials told The Independent they have no concerns about espionage and are grateful to their Indian allies for keeping the jet safe while it awaits essential repairs. On Monday, the F-35B was pictured inside a hangar facility at the international airport. Photos showed it was towed inside the hangar by a tug vehicle. Another photo showed a Royal Air Force Atlas C1 military transport aircraft also at the Indian airport, which was used to bring over the team of British engineers. On Sunday, British officials said the UK engineers were 'carrying specialist equipment necessary for the movement and repair process'. The F-35B Lightning, built by the American aerospace giant Lockheed Martin, is one of the most advanced fighters in the armouries of Nato states and a few select allies. It is packed with state-of-the-art technology, including sensors, mission systems and stealth features that allow it to operate in hostile environments without being detected.
Sustainability Times
02-07-2025
- Science
- Sustainability Times
'China Unleashes Invisible Firepower': Newly Revealed Stealth Missiles Could Radically Transform the Future of Modern Warfare
IN A NUTSHELL 🚀 Chinese researchers have developed a revolutionary rocket propulsion technology using helium to enhance thrust and reduce fuel leaks. to enhance thrust and reduce fuel leaks. 🛰️ The new engine can change speed mid-flight, making rockets nearly invisible to current detection systems. to current detection systems. 🔍 Inspired by a NASA technical issue, the integration of helium improves engine efficiency and reliability . and . 💡 This advancement has potential applications in creating stealth missiles and reducing space launch costs for exploration. In recent developments, Chinese researchers have made a groundbreaking advancement in rocket propulsion technology that could revolutionize both modern warfare and space exploration. By using an innovative approach, these scientists have designed a rocket engine capable of variable-speed propulsion while rendering the rocket nearly invisible to existing detection systems. Although this technology has not yet been tested in real-world conditions, its potential applications are already being heralded as revolutionary for both military and space sectors. An Innovative Propulsion: Helium at the Core of the Breakthrough Unlike traditional rocket engines that rely on liquid fuels to generate thrust, this new technology employs the injection of gaseous helium directly into the rocket engine mixed with fuel. This combination of solid and gaseous fuel offers several benefits. First, it allows for more effective pressurization of the fuel, potentially increasing thrust threefold compared to engines that use only conventional fuel. Secondly, the use of helium reduces the risk of leaks, a recurring issue in the space industry. Another innovative aspect of this engine is its ability to modify the rocket's speed mid-flight by adjusting the amount of helium injected into the fuel. This makes the rocket more challenging to track, as the propulsion speed can be adapted in real-time. This has direct implications for missile stealth, making them nearly impossible to detect by current systems like infrared surveillance satellites. 'Biggest Wind Turbine Ever': China Smashes All Records With This Colossal Machine—But a Hidden Flaw Threatens the Whole Project A Discovery Inspired by a NASA Technical Problem The origin of this discovery in China traces back to a major technical issue encountered by NASA. In 2024, astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams found themselves stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) after their Boeing Starliner capsule faced technical problems, notably helium leaks used for engine pressurization. This situation led Chinese researchers to rethink the use of helium in propulsion engines. Instead of allowing it to leak, they found a way to integrate it directly into the engine to enhance its efficiency and reliability. This incident, which necessitated a ten-month rescue mission, paradoxically played a positive role by inspiring a breakthrough in propulsion technology. The discovery has thus enabled the design of an engine capable of addressing the modern propulsion challenges. 'China Is Already There': Shocking Lunar Strategy Exposes How Beijing Plans to Dominate Space and Rewire Global Power Structures Military and Space Applications The applications of this new technology are numerous, but the most publicized involve the military and space sectors. On one hand, the engine could be used in China to create stealth missiles that evade detection by current early-warning systems. Missiles propelled by this engine would be nearly invisible to surveillance satellites, making their interception or tracking by defense systems more challenging. On the other hand, this advancement could dramatically reduce the costs of space launches. Engines using solid and gaseous fuels are far cheaper to produce and operate than liquid fuel engines. This could open new opportunities for countries and companies looking to invest in space exploration. For instance, China, which is already developing a constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites, could see its lunar ambitions facilitated by this technology. The country plans to build a manned base on the Moon by 2035, and this new propulsion could significantly lower the costs. 'China Unveils Game-Changing Aircraft': Travel Around the World in Just 2 Hours With This New 12,000-MPH Plane Challenges and Uncertainties This technology is not yet ready for field use. Although the results obtained by Chinese researchers are promising, no real-world tests have been conducted. The effectiveness of this engine in practical situations, especially under extreme launch or combat conditions, remains to be demonstrated. Moreover, while the propulsion technology promises great stealth, its use could raise ethical questions, particularly concerning its implications in modern warfare and the arms race. Similarly, the fact that this technology is controlled by countries with powerful military capabilities could lead to geopolitical tensions. As we continue to explore the potential of this revolutionary propulsion technology, we must consider the implications it holds for the future. Will this innovation pave the way for a new era of space exploration and military strategy, or will it lead to further geopolitical complexities? Our author used artificial intelligence to enhance this article. Did you like it? 4.5/5 (25)
South China Morning Post
26-05-2025
- Science
- South China Morning Post
China's super-quiet submarine tech halves engine noise detection range: study
A research team in Shanghai has unveiled a vibration-damping technology that could significantly improve the stealth of submarines during covert operations, according to a peer-reviewed study published in the Chinese journal Noise and Vibration Control. Zhang Zhiyi and his team of researchers, from Shanghai Jiao Tong University's State Key Laboratory of Mechanical Systems and Vibration, said their innovation could theoretically cut the detection range of hostile sonar systems by more than half. The technology is intended to replace traditional rigid engine mounts with a hybrid active-passive vibration isolation system that would reduce the engine noise transmitted through submarine hulls by up to 26 decibels (dB), according to the paper. It combined a steel-rubber-steel 'sandwich' ring to dissipate vibrations, and an active layer with 12 piezoelectric actuators arranged radially around the engine to further reduce the noise, it said. These electrically-powered actuators can neutralise the engine's micron-level movements with strong control forces through precision lever mechanisms. 'Research indicates that a mere 10dB reduction in underwater vehicle noise can decrease its detectable range by 32 per cent,' according to the paper, published in April. 'During low-speed navigation, mechanical noise generated by power equipment operation constitutes the primary noise source for underwater vehicles, serving as their key acoustic signature for detection – typically manifested as a series of low-frequency tonal components,' the researchers said.
