Overview

• British authorities are pursuing a rare C-17 Globemaster airlift or partial dismantling to repatriate the F-35B after field repairs stalled.
• The jet diverted to Thiruvananthapuram on June 14 due to low fuel and adverse weather before developing a hydraulic fault that grounded it indefinitely.
• RAF/CISF personnel guard the aircraft around the clock with logistical support from the Indian Air Force to protect its sensitive technology.
• The UK announced plans to acquire 12 F-35A and 15 F-35B jets in its second procurement phase to bolster NATO’s nuclear deterrence.
• Kerala Tourism’s satirical social media campaign starring the stranded jet has gone viral, drawing global attention to the state.