A British Navy F-35 fighter jet stranded at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport is set to be dismantled by engineers trained by the American defence company Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the aircraft. Only personnel trained by Lockheed Martin are authorised to carry out the dismantling process. According to reports, the engineering team will soon arrive at the airport, accompanied by British military officers. The entire dismantling process will be conducted under their strict supervision, with each stage being recorded in detail.
It is reported that the dismantled parts of the aircraft will be transported on a military cargo plane, the C-17 Globemaster. The aircraft is expected to land at Thiruvananthapuram for this purpose. The dismantling will take place in a high-security zone, and even each screw is expected to be assigned a security code to prevent any possibility of data leakage. Any compromise in the F-35’s stealth technology could potentially expose classified military information and jeopardise diplomatic and defence operations. To prevent such risks, the British military will ensure comprehensive security throughout the process.
A similar dismantling and air transport operation occurred in May 2019, when an F-35 was flown from Eglin Air Force Base in Florida with its wings removed, using a C-17 Globemaster.
On June 14, the F-35, Britain’s fifth-generation fighter aircraft, was forced to make an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport after running out of fuel. The jet had been participating in military exercises in the Arabian Sea and had taken off from the HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier. However, within hours, it experienced a fuel shortage and had to land urgently. Upon inspection, experts discovered faults in the aircraft’s hydraulic and starting systems. Despite several attempts, the issues could not be resolved, leading to an extended stay at the airport. The aircraft is currently stationed under CISF protection at Bay No. 4 of the airport.
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