IAF says it identified and detected UK's F35B fighter jet: Has India cracked the 'stealth code'?
A F-35 fighter jet of the UK Navy made an emergency landing due to low fuel at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, and the Indian Air Force is providing all necessary support for the rectification and subsequent return of the aircraft, in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday.
The Indian Air Force successfully detected a Royal Navy F-35B fighter after it made an emergency landing near Thiruvananthapuram. The IAF's Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) identified and cleared the stealth aircraft, showcasing India's ability to track sophisticated, low-observable aircraft.
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
F-35B: A multirole, low-observable aircraft
Project Kusha: India's move toward self-reliance
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has successfully identified and detected a Royal Navy F-35B — a multirole 'stealth' aircraft — after it made an emergency diversion near Thiruvananthapuram last week.The incident has raised a key question: has India cracked the code to track aircraft designed to evade radar and operate undetected in hostile airspace?'A Royal Navy F-35B fighter recovered off an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on the night of 14 June 25. Operating from UK Aircraft Carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, it was undertaking routine flying outside Indian ADIZ with Thiruvananthapuram earmarked as the emergency recovery airfield," the IAF said in a post on X.This means the F-35B was not supposed to land in Thiruvananthapuram; it was a diversion due to an unspecified emergency.Nevertheless, the IAF's Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) successfully identified and cleared the aircraft for recovery — a key demonstration of its ability to track a sophisticated, low-observable aircraft under unusual conditions.'On having declared a diversion off an emergency, the F35B was detected and identified by the IAF's IACCS network and cleared for the recovery. IAF is providing all necessary support for the rectification and subsequent return of the aircraft," IAF added.This reveals two key points. First, the IACCS — a network of sensors, radars, and control centers — was able to track and identify the F-35B despite its stealth capabilities. Second, the IAF responded promptly and efficiently, offering all necessary support for the aircraft's recovery and eventual return to its operations.The F-35B is designed to perform a range of missions — from air-to-surface and electronic attack to air-to-air operations — while avoiding radar and remaining hard to track.It carries advanced sensors and mission systems that allow it to operate in hostile airspace, share data securely, and employ its own weapons in a high-threat environment. The UK Royal Air Force first put it into service in 2018, and the Royal Navy followed in 2020.As a short take-off and vertical landing aircraft, the F-35B can operate from aircraft carriers and forward bases in austere conditions.The multirole fighter is also able to gather and distribute battlefield information through its sophisticated sensor suite, strengthening the capabilities of the platforms and forces that operate alongside it.The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) are currently developing Project Kusha, a homegrown long-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system designed to match the capabilities of advanced platforms like the S-400.This is alongside the QRSAM, the QRS Air Defence Control System 'Akashteer', and the operational S-400s already deployed by the IAF.Project Kusha aims to integrate numerous sensors and control systems to form a multilayered air defence network — strengthening India's ability to respond to aerial threats promptly and effectively.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
11 hours ago
- India Today
Four arrested for impersonation, unauthorised entry at Military college campus
In a significant security breach, four civilians, including one impersonating an Indian Air Force officer, gained unauthorised entry into the highly secured Military College of Electronics and Mechanical Engineering (MCEME) campus in Secunderabad on June to an official complaint filed by MCEME authorities with Trimulgherry Police Station, one of the suspects, Rajat Kumar Mishra, falsely claimed to be a Wing Commander of the Indian Air Force. He used a forged identity card to enter the premises through the MI Techno Chowk Gate at around 1:00 PM. He was accompanied by three others—one man and two group's movement raised suspicion when they reached the Jubilee Gate of the military facility and started taking photographs and recording videos. Acting promptly, the guards alerted the Provost Unit TASA and officials from the Southern Command Intelligence. The Quick Reaction Team (QRT) of MCEME swiftly apprehended all four individuals and handed them over to authorities for a joint investigation. The four individuals have been identified as Rakesh Kumar, Ashish Kumar, Aaliya Abbshi and Nagma Bano. The nature and intent behind their unauthorised entry, as well as the impersonation, are currently under investigation. Authorities have requested a First Information Report (FIR) be filed to initiate a full enquiry into the incident. The police have registered a case under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including Section 419 (cheating by impersonation), Section 420 (Cheating), Section 468 (Forgery for the purpose of cheating) and Section 471 – using forged documents as genuine. Must Watch
India Today
19 hours ago
- India Today
Fact Check: Viral video of jet being shot down is Russian — NOT an Israeli F-35!
Iran claimed it successfully took down three Israeli F-35 fifth-generation stealth jets. While Israel denied Tehran's claim, a video now going viral purports to show just that. Many shared a video of a fighter jet shooting down another one in a dogfight, alleging the latter was an Israeli Today Fact Check, however, found that the viral video shows a Russian SU-25 mistakenly shooting down its PROBE Responding to the viral post, several people pointed out that the viral video did not show an Israeli F-35 jet but a Russian SU-25 being accidentally hit by friendly fire in Ukraine.A reverse search of keyframes from the viral clip led us to the same video, shared on YouTube on June 13, with the title: 'FRIENDLY FIRE: Russian Su-25 shot down by its own wingman.' We also found several news reports from June that featured the viral video. As per the Daily Express, the video showed a Russian SU-25 fighter mistakenly shooting down his wingman during a routine mission. The incident took place on June 13 near Soledar in Russia-occupied Donetsk. Reportedly, Russian military sources acknowledged that their SU-25 went down. There was no evidence that the fighter jet was brought down by hostile Ukraine-based news outlets also reported this. According to the Kyiv Independent, a Russian SU-25 attack aircraft from the Russian Aerospace Forces crashed on June 13. The pilot was successfully rescued. The SU-25 is a Soviet-era aircraft developed by Sukhoi in the late it's clear that the video does not show Iran shooting down an Israeli F-35 Watch Want to send us something for verification? Please share it on our at 73 7000 7000 You can also send us an email at factcheck@
NDTV
a day ago
- NDTV
Palestine Activists Break Into UK's Largest Air Base, Deface 2 Aircraft
Pro-Palestinian activists broke into the UK's largest air force base in southeast England and vandalised two planes in an act condemned by Prime Minister Keir Starmer as "disgraceful" on Friday. "The act of vandalism committed at RAF Brize Norton is disgraceful," Starmer said on X after campaign group Palestine Action posted a video claiming to show its activist breaking into the Royal Air Force base in Oxfordshire. In the video posted on X, the activists appear to spray a plane with red paint while roaming the base on scooters. "Palestine Action break into RAF Brize Norton and damage two military aircraft," claimed the group, which has been behind several stunts protesting the UK's role in the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. "We strongly condemn this vandalism of Royal Air Force assets. We are working closely with the police who are investigating," the Ministry of Defence said. Local police said they launched an investigation into reports of "criminal damage" and a break-in. RAF Brize Norton serves as a hub for air-to-air refuelling forces and supports overseas operations, including flights to the RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, Britain's largest air force base in the Middle East. According to British media, one of the planes vandalised was an Airbus Voyager air-to-air refuelling tanker. "Despite publicly condemning the Israeli Government, Britain continues to send military cargo, fly spy planes over Gaza and refuel US/Israeli fighter jets," Palestine Action said in a statement. "Britain isn't just complicit, it's an active participant in the Gaza genocide and war crimes across the Middle East." Last month, the group claimed responsibility for vandalising a US military aircraft in Ireland. Starmer's Labour government suspended around 30 out of 350 arms export licenses to Israel last September, citing a "risk" they could be used in violations of international law. But the UK continues to supply components for F-35 fighter jets to a global pool that Israel is able to access. Israel has repeatedly denied allegations that it is committing a genocide in Gaza during its 20-month-long military campaign following Hamas's attack on October 7, 2023.
