F-35B Grounded in Kerala: When will US-Made British fighter jet depart from Kerala? stealth mode in question due to…, India to charge Rs…
New Delhi: It’s been more than a month since one of the world’s most modern fighter aircraft, the F-35B Lightning II, had to make an emergency landing at Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. The fighter jet of the British Royal Navy had run out of fuel and made an emergency landing. Due to the emergency landing, the aircraft’s hydraulic system suffered an unexpected failure. It had flown from the British Royal Navy’s aircraft carrier named HMS Prince of Wales. When the US-made fighter jet made an emergency landing a month ago, nobody was talking about it, but now questions have been raised about the security protocols, huge parking bills, and reliability of the F-35B jet.
What Are The Parking Charges? Will The British Navy Pay Them?
It’s been more than a month since the F-35B made an emergency landing and has been grounded at Thiruvananthapuram airport since then. As per a report by CNBC-TV18, citing the Indian Defence Research Wing (IDRW), the British government may have to pay around Rs 9.19 lakh to the airport as a parking fee. This fee is estimated at Rs 26,261 per day for just 35 days. The amount is expected to increase accordingly if more days pass.
A Rare Protocol Situation
Initially, the aircraft was parked at Bay No. 4 for several days under the surveillance of CISF. Later, when the British engineers arrived, the fighter jet was moved to Air India’s maintenance and repair hangar under tight security. The long standstill of F-35B led to a rare protocol situation for several days.
Indian personnel were not allowed to inspect the fighter jet as the British Navy and the US were worried about its stealth technology.
How Much Secrecy Was There During The F-35B Repairs?
After several unsuccessful repair attempts by American and British engineers, a 24-person RAF team was dispatched on July 6th to repair an aircraft’s hydraulic system. Working in a hangar with limited security and CCTV coverage, the team reportedly completed the repairs. Their communications with the UK were reportedly conducted via secure, encrypted satellite channels. The fighter jet is scheduled to depart India on July 22nd.
Does This Impact F-35B’s Stealth Image?
Notably, F-35B ‘s more than a month stay in India, a country that doesn’t have stealth fighter jet technology, sparked debate across the world about its true capabilities.
Despite its advanced stealth technology, Indian air defences reportedly tracked the fighter jet before it reached Thiruvananthapuram airport, raising serious questions about whether its stealth technology is not capable or if India now can detect such jets.
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