UK F-35B Fighter Jet Stuck in Kerala: Who Builds It and Why It’s a Game-Changer in Warfare

India

-Madhuri Adnal

Updated: Friday, July 4, 2025, 0:02 [IST]

A
British
Navy
F-35B
Lightning
II
fighter
jet
made
an
emergency
landing
at
Thiruvananthapuram
International
Airport
in
Kerala
on
June
14,
2025.
The
aircraft
faced
adverse
weather
and
low
fuel,
necessitating
the
diversion.
This
incident
marked
a
rare
appearance
of
one
of
the
world’s
most
advanced
fighter
jets
in
Indian
airspace.

Post-landing
checks
revealed
a
hydraulic
fault,
grounding
the
jet.
According
to
top
government
sources,
repairs
are
not
possible
at
its
current
location.
The
UK
plans
to
send
a
larger
transport
aircraft
to
retrieve
the
stranded
jet.
The
British
government
has
assured
India
that
it
will
cover
all
related
expenses,
including
parking
and
hangar
fees.

The
Global
Machine
Behind
The
F-35

The
F-35
is
produced
under
the
Joint
Strike
Fighter
programme
led
by
Lockheed
Martin
in
the
US.
However,
it’s
a
global
effort
involving
multiple
nations.
BAE
Systems
in
the
UK
constructs
the
rear
fuselage,
Northrop
Grumman
provides
key
sensors,
and
Pratt
&
Whitney
supplies
the
engine.
Rolls-Royce
contributes
the
lift
fan
system
for
vertical
landings.

Countries
like
Italy,
Norway,
Canada,
Australia,
Denmark,
and
others
contribute
various
components
or
systems.
Italy
hosts
one
of
two
Final
Assembly
and
Check-Out
(FACO)
facilities
outside
the
US.
This
international
collaboration
fosters
shared
ownership
and
strengthens
strategic
ties
among
allies.

Three
Versions
Of
A
Stealth
Fighter

The
F-35
comes
in
three
versions:
F-35A,
F-35B,
and
F-35C.
The
F-35A
is
used
by
the
US
Air
Force
and
allies
for
conventional
take-offs
from
standard
runways.
It
costs
around
$82.5
million
per
unit.
The
F-35B
variant
allows
short
take-offs
and
vertical
landings,
suitable
for
smaller
carriers
and
forward
bases.

This
version
is
ideal
for
forces
like
the
UK’s
Royal
Navy
and
costs
approximately
$109
million
per
aircraft.
The
F-35C
is
designed
for
US
Navy
aircraft
carriers
with
a
larger
wingspan
and
reinforced
landing
gear
to
endure
sea
operations.
Its
unit
cost
is
about
$102
million.

Why
The
F-35
Is
Special

The
F-35’s
stealth
design
allows
it
to
evade
detection
by
advanced
air
defences.
It’s
equipped
with
sensors
that
provide
comprehensive
situational
awareness
to
pilots
through
a
unified
display.
This
capability
enables
quick
decision-making
with
enhanced
clarity
compared
to
older
jets.

Functioning
as
a
flying
command
centre,
it
communicates
with
other
jets,
ships,
and
ground
troops
to
share
information
and
coordinate
actions
effectively.
It
can
carry
weapons
internally
for
stealth
or
externally
when
concealment
isn’t
crucial.
Partners
And
Buyers

The
programme
began
with
nine
partners:
the
US,
UK,
Italy,
Netherlands,
Canada,
Denmark,
Norway,
Australia,
and
Turkey.
Turkey
was
later
removed
due
to
its
purchase
of
Russia’s
S-400
system.
New
operators
like
Japan,
South
Korea,
Finland
have
joined
via
Foreign
Military
Sales.

Each
country
operating
the
F-35
contributes
to
its
maintenance
ecosystem.
Australia
hosts
a
regional
maintenance
facility
while
Italy
assembles
jets
for
European
customers
at
its
FACO
site.

Challenges
In
Keeping
The
F-35
Operational

The
F-35’s
advanced
technology
comes
with
high
costs
and
maintenance
challenges.
Reports
indicate
only
half
of
the
global
fleet
is
ready
to
fly
at
any
time
due
to
delays
in
spare
parts
supply
and
software
issues.

The
lifetime
cost
of
owning
and
operating
this
fleet
exceeds
$1.7
trillion
USD-making
it
history’s
most
expensive
weapons
programme.

The
Road
Ahead:
Upgrades
And
Competition

A
major
upgrade
plan
called
Block
4
aims
to
enhance
radar
capabilities
along
with
electronic
warfare
tools
while
expanding
weapon
compatibility
options
over
time
through
faster
processors
alongside
improved
software
updates
ensuring
continued
combat
readiness
well
into
future
decades
ahead
despite
emerging
competition
globally
from
projects
such
as
GCAP
or
KF21
Boramae
among
others
currently
underway
worldwide
today!

India
isn’t
part
of
this
programme
but
works
on
developing
its
own
fifth-generation
stealth
fighter
named
Advanced
Medium
Combat
Aircraft
(AMCA).
Designed
by
ADA
&
HAL
aiming
towards
combining
stealth
features
alongside
supercruise
capabilities
tailored
specifically
towards
meeting
Indian
defence
needs
effectively
over
time
ahead!