The British Ministry of Defence reported on 14/8 that its F-35B stealth fighter remains at Kagoshima Airport in southwestern Japan, four days after making an emergency landing there due to technical issues.
While the ministry declined to specify the problem, it confirmed that it was unrelated to the issue that forced another F-35B to make an emergency landing in India in June, grounding it for over a month.
According to the British Ministry of Defence, British engineers have inspected the F-35B in Japan. The aircraft is currently awaiting replacement parts for repairs. Images released by Japanese media show no external damage to the fighter.
It remains unclear when the British F-35B will be able to return to the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales.
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The British F-35B fighter jet at Japan's Kagoshima Airport on 10/8. Photo: X/acct_of_master |
Both jets that experienced problems are assigned to the HMS Prince of Wales, currently operating in the Indo-Pacific region.
Thomas Newdick, an editor at the US military website War Zone, suggested that such incidents with British F-35Bs are "not unusual" in carrier operations.
"Making a precautionary emergency landing at a land-based airport is the safest option when operating in coastal waters. Various technical, human, and operational factors make attempting to return to the carrier considerably riskier," Newdick explained.
The F-35B, designed for the US Marine Corps, is known for its short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) capabilities, allowing it to operate from amphibious assault ships with smaller decks than traditional aircraft carriers. However, the complex STOVL system limits the F-35B's range and maneuverability compared to the Air Force's F-35A and the Navy's F-35C variants.
As of November 2023, at least 16 F-35Bs operated by the US and its allies have been involved in accidents, with several completely destroyed.
The UK initially planned to purchase 150 F-35Bs but later reduced the order to 138. The Royal Air Force has received 39 aircraft, one of which crashed in the Mediterranean Sea in 2021, apparently after the engine ingested a plastic rain cover and lost thrust during takeoff.
Pham Giang (According to War Zone)
