UK Technical Team Lands in Kerala to Repair Grounded F-35B Fighter Jet

Thiruvananthapuram: A team of 21 technical experts, including aviation engineers from the British Royal Air Force, arrived at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on July 6 to assess and repair the grounded F-35B fighter jet.

UK Technical Team Lands in Kerala to Repair Grounded F-35B Fighter Jet    

The team was flown in aboard the Royal Air Force’s ZM417 aircraft, a type of Airbus A400M Atlas. “The aircraft, after dropping the expert team, is expected to fly back from the airport around 4 p.m. today,” an official confirmed.

The British Royal Navy’s F-35B fighter jet, part of the advanced stealth fleet, has been stranded in Kerala since June 14 after it was forced to make an emergency landing due to low fuel and a severe hydraulic failure. Since then, multiple attempts by local ground teams to repair the jet on-site have been unsuccessful. 

According to sources, the visiting expert team will now conduct a detailed inspection of the aircraft and attempt to make it air-borne again. In the event that on-site repairs are not feasible, British authorities are expected to initiate a partial dismantling of the jet under extreme secrecy. The dismantled components will likely be airlifted back to the United Kingdom, possibly using a military transport aircraft.

The operation is being closely monitored given the sensitive nature of the F-35B's stealth technology and the security protocols associated with it.

The fighter aircraft has been moved to the hanger from its grounded position after being stranded for 22 days. Officials said the relocation was carried out to minimise disruption to airport operations.

What is the parking cost for the British Royal Navy's F-35 jet?

The delay has not only drawn attention to the logistical challenge but also to the growing cost. The F-35B, valued at over $100 million, is racking up significant parking fees at the Adani-operated Thiruvananthapuram International Airport.

Based on the airport’s Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW)-based fee structure, the 27.3-tonne jet is accruing an estimated Rs 26,000 per day in parking charges. Over the course of 22 days, that amounts to over Rs 5.72 lakh approx . This estimate is derived through linear interpolation from known civilian aircraft rates:

• Learjet 60 (10.7 MT): ~Rs 5,000/day
• Gulfstream G650 (45.2 MT): ~Rs 50,000/day
• F-35B (27.3 MT): ~Rs 26,000/day (estimated)

However, it's worth noting that standard civilian airport charges may not fully apply to military aircraft, and the final fee structure remains undetermined. Sources suggest that the Union government may absorb the costs, in view of ongoing India-UK defence cooperation surrounding the incident.

The aircraft is currently parked in Bay 4, typically reserved for VIP flights, and has not interfered with routine airport operations.

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