Grounded F-35B in Kerala to be dismantled under iron-clad secrecy: Decoding costly security headache

File photo of F35 fighter jet. (AFP)

The United Kingdom has finally decided to fly back the F-35B fighter jet from Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram. While the decision is yet to be formally announced, reports suggest that one possible route home for this stranded Royal Navy combat aircraft will be via a C-17 Globemaster transport plane.

An NDTV report states that the F-35B is likely to be dismantled and flown in the C-17. But this is easier said than done. After all, this is no flat-packed furniture. This fourth-generation fighter jet has been in Kerala for the past 19 days, standing in rain and shine since making an unscheduled landing.

The NDTV report added that only trained staff from Lockheed Martin are authorized to dismantle the F-35B. Hence, arrangements will have to be made for the experts to reach Kerala for the month-long task. The aircraft’s classified technology is closely guarded, which explains why Royal Navy officials had initially declined Air India’s offer to house it in a hangar.

In addition to Lockheed Martin experts, Royal Navy and other military officials will also monitor the dismantling process, the NDTV report said. Every single component of the aircraft will be dismantled, logged, and packed into the C-17 transport aircraft.

Prior to the Kerala incident, the only other time an F-35 was dismantled was in the summer of 2019. Back then, a C-17 aircraft airlifted an F-35 Lightning II from Florida to Utah, the NDTV report added.

With radar blockers and advanced stealth coating, F-35 has data fusion and AI features. the combat jet also include encrypted software. F-35 is also capable of carrying nuclear weapons.