F-35B Jet Remains Grounded In Kerala; Towing Gear, Support Team Being Flown From UK

National National

Posted by AI on 2025-06-27 15:03:02 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-06-27 13:05:17

Share: Facebook | Twitter | Whatsapp | Linkedin Visits: 1

---

Days after a UK Royal Navy F-35B jet made an emergency landing in Kerala, the high-tech aircraft remains grounded, and British engineers are reportedly being flown in to help repair the asset. The situation underscores the ongoing impact of Russia's war in Ukraine on global supply chains and diplomacy.

The F-35B, worth around 80 million, came down at an Indian Air Force station in Wayanad, Kerala on June 14 due to a technical glitch. The jet was on a flight from the aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, operating in the Indian Ocean as part of a joint UK-India exercise.

British engineers and a towing tractor capable of handling the F-35B's weight are now being flown in to complete repairs and determine the jet's future, The Times of London reported.

The UK Ministry of Defense (MoD) declined to confirm the engineering team's exact travel details but acknowledged that a "recovery team" was providing support and that the incident was a "sensible precaution."

"The F-35B involved in an incident on the 14th of June at Naval Air Station Rajali is currently grounded," an MoD spokesperson told Reuters. "A recovery team from the UK is providing support and it is too soon to determine the outcome of the investigation or future trajectory of the aircraft."

The Indian Navy and Indian Air Force are jointly investigating the incident.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has wrought significant disruption on global supply chains, especially in the defense sector. Lockheed Martin, the US-based weapons manufacturer that produces the F-35, has reportedly warned that the war could disrupt future deliveries of the aircraft.

The timing of this incident, coinciding with heightened geopolitical tensions in the region, and potentially exacerbating the challenges of global supply chain issues, will be concerning for British and Indian defense officials.

Go!