UK’s Grounded F-35 in Kerala Faces Dismantling.
The British F-35B fighter jet, which has remained grounded in Kerala for the past 20 days, will reportedly be dismantled on-site due to technical issues. Defence officials have confirmed that the jet cannot be repaired locally and will be taken apart before being transported back to the UK. The dismantled components will be carefully loaded onto a special transport aircraft, such as the C-17 Globemaster, which is equipped to carry heavy military equipment across long distances.
Kerala’s Unlikely Guest: UK’s Grounded F-35B Fighter Jet to Be Dismantled for Return Amid Logistical and Security Challenges
A High-Tech Guest That Won’t Take Off
The jet, reportedly on a routine deployment or transit operation, was forced to land due to a technical snag. While exact details remain under wraps due to the sensitive nature of the aircraft, what’s clear is that the problem is serious enough to prevent the F-35B from returning to the skies anytime soon.
Over the past 20 days, British and Indian defence officials have explored multiple options to get the fifth-generation fighter airborne again, but to no avail. As days pass, logistical realities and strategic considerations are now taking over. The latest plan? Dismantle the jet and fly it home aboard a giant military transport aircraft — most likely the C-17 Globemaster.
Not as Simple as Loading Cargo
While the decision sounds straightforward, transporting a \$110 million stealth jet across continents is anything but simple.
Used by countries like the United States, United Kingdom, and India, it has a remarkable track record of transporting tanks, helicopters, troops, and large cargo over long distances. It can even carry an AH-64 Apache helicopter, which itself is a sizeable machine.
However, fitting an F-35B into a Globemaster is not just a matter of wheels-on-ramp.
According to an India Today Digital report, the aircraft’s design poses spatial challenges. As a result, the stealth jet can only fit inside if its wings are detached.
A defence expert quoted by the publication explained, “The F-35’s wings have to come off. Otherwise, it simply won’t fit into the C-17’s hold. It’s a very calculated and meticulous process.”
A Tricky Operation
Dismantling an aircraft like the F-35B is no minor engineering task. Unlike older-generation fighters, which can be taken apart and reassembled with relative ease, the F-35B is a complex piece of stealth technology. It features advanced sensors, radar-absorbing materials, and secure communication systems designed to ensure battlefield dominance and secrecy.
Any misstep in dismantling, handling, or transportation could risk damaging these sensitive systems — or worse, expose the jet to potential data breaches.
In fact, this isn’t the first time a situation like this has unfolded. Base in Utah. That operation, however, was carried out under tightly controlled conditions in a secure environment, not on foreign soil.
Tight Security and Data Protection
The F-35B is not just an aircraft; it’s a flying computer with wings. With a price tag exceeding \$110 million, its value isn’t only in its parts — it lies in the sensitive data, software, and proprietary stealth systems it carries. It is, after all, considered one of the most advanced fighter jets ever built.
Therefore, dismantling the jet involves not just engineering precision but also tight cybersecurity protocols.
According to an NDTV report, every component, down to the last screw, will need to be tagged with unique identification codes. This is to ensure nothing is misplaced or tampered with, and that all parts can be accounted for during reassembly in the United Kingdom. This also significantly reduces the risk of stealth technology theft or espionage — a genuine concern in the world of modern warfare.
A defence official told the outlet, “Every element of the aircraft will be monitored. The level of confidentiality around the F-35 program is incredibly high. Even minor details, like screw alignment and coating materials, are considered classified.”
A Scene of Global Intrigue in a Local Airport
Meanwhile, the Thiruvananthapuram airport — better known for its civilian hustle and beach-bound tourists — has suddenly found itself at the centre of a global military moment.
“It’s not every day you see such an advanced foreign fighter jet right here,” said a ground staff worker, requesting anonymity. “We’ve seen military jets before, but this one is something else.”
What’s Next?
Preparations are underway to begin the delicate dismantling process, expected to involve a team of British engineers and military technicians flown in specifically for the task. Once safely taken apart, the jet’s parts will be loaded onto a C-17 Globemaster, flown to the UK, and then reassembled and inspected by Lockheed Martin technicians.
The timeline for the entire operation remains unclear, but officials hope to complete the transfer without further delay, given the cost and security implications of keeping the jet on foreign soil.
A Lesson in Modern Military Logistics
This unexpected episode serves as a vivid reminder of how high-tech military assets, while capable of cutting-edge operations, are still subject to the fundamental laws of physics, logistics, and international diplomacy.
For Kerala, the grounded F-35B has become an unlikely visitor — a symbol of global geopolitics temporarily parked at a quiet Indian airport, awaiting its journey home via the skies it could not conquer on its own.