After 22 days of being stranded in the open, the British Royal Navy’s F-35B stealth fighter jet that made an emergency landing in Kerala has finally been moved to a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. The relocation comes as a team of British and American engineers arrived to assess the jet and determine repair options.

Also Read: British Expert Team Arrives in Kerala to Repair Grounded F-35B Fighter Jet

The F-35B, valued at over $110 million and part of the HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group, made an emergency landing on June 14 due to severe weather and a subsequent hydraulic snag. It was guided safely to the runway by India’s Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) around 9:30 pm. Though the landing was smooth, the aircraft developed a critical hydraulic system fault during post-landing checks, grounding it indefinitely.

A team of 25 engineers from the British Royal Air Force arrived on Sunday aboard an RAF Airbus A400M Atlas. The specialists will now determine whether the jet can be fixed on-site or if it will require partial dismantling and airlifting back to the UK. The move to the hangar marks a critical step in accelerating the inspection and repair process, especially with the aircraft having remained parked in an open bay during Kerala’s monsoon season.

Initial attempts by a three-member Royal Navy unit to resolve the fault had failed, prompting the UK to send a larger team with Lockheed Martin-trained technicians. However, the team’s deployment was delayed, extending the aircraft’s stay in India.

The British High Commission has expressed appreciation for the cooperation extended by Indian authorities. A spokesperson said, “The UK remains very grateful for the continued support and collaboration of the Indian authorities and airport teams.”

A six-member detachment from the HMS Prince of Wales continues to guard the aircraft alongside CISF personnel. Discussions between Indian authorities and British engineers are ongoing to finalise further steps.

The F-35B is the only variant of the fifth-generation stealth fighter capable of short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL), enabling it to operate from aircraft carriers and short-runway airbases. The jet was conducting a routine sortie in the Indo-Pacific region when it encountered severe weather and low fuel, prompting the emergency landing.

While the fighter jet’s presence has generated curiosity and online buzz—including viral posts and memes—its technical issues highlight the operational complexity of advanced military aviation platforms in unpredictable environments. With the aircraft now sheltered and under expert inspection, a clearer picture of its serviceability is expected to emerge in the coming days.

In a promising boost to India’s defence export ambitions, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, and Indonesia have expressed interest in acquiring the Guided Pinaka Rocket System. The information was revealedpp by Major General V Arya (Retd.), Executive Director of Solar Industries, a key partner in the system’s development and production.

The interest from these countries follows India’s successful export of the advanced artillery system to Armenia, which marked a major milestone for the nation’s indigenous defence manufacturing capabilities. Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in collaboration with private sector partners such as Solar Industries, the Guided Pinaka system has gained international attention for its precision, firepower, and adaptability to modern combat environments.

Designed to strike targets at distances exceeding 75 kilometres with high accuracy, the Guided Pinaka is an upgraded version of the Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) system. It features precision-guided munitions, the ability to fire a range of warheads, and enhanced mobility—making it suitable for both conventional and asymmetric warfare scenarios.

Major General Arya emphasized that the successful deployment of the system in Armenia has opened new avenues for discussions with nations exploring similar artillery solutions. He noted that the capabilities of the system, combined with its cost-effectiveness and compatibility with modern battlefield technologies, are key factors driving foreign interest.

India’s defence exports have grown significantly in recent years, driven by initiatives under the “Make in India” campaign. Solar Industries, one of the country’s leading manufacturers of ammunition and explosives, has played a crucial role in ramping up production to meet increasing domestic and international demand.

The potential defence deals with Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, and Indonesia could not only enhance India’s strategic partnerships in the Middle East and Southeast Asia but also contribute to the country’s economic growth and technological reputation on the global stage.

British Royal Airbus Air Force A400M Atlas aircraft landed at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on Sunday, bringing with it an expert team of engineers from the United Kingdom and the United States to repair the grounded F-35B fighter jet that has remained stationed at the airport since June 14.

The team, comprising around 20 personnel including engineers from Lockheed Martin, arrived to carry out on-site inspections and explore options for restoring the aircraft to operational status. The F-35B, one of the world’s most advanced stealth fighters, was forced to make an emergency landing last month due to technical issues and adverse weather over the Indian Ocean.

The engineers will initially attempt to repair the jet where it currently stands—bay number four of the domestic terminal. If that proves unworkable, the team may tow the aircraft to the hangar for a more controlled repair environment. As a last resort, parts of the jet could be dismantled and airlifted to the UK or US for further examination and repair. A final decision will be made following the team’s detailed inspection.

Since its emergency landing, the F-35B has drawn considerable public and media attention. Kerala Tourism even posted a tongue-in-cheek message on social media—“Kerala, the destination you’ll never want to leave”—which quickly went viral and inspired a flood of memes online.

Security around the aircraft remains tight, with CISF personnel deployed continuously to secure the site.

This is the first known emergency landing of an F-35B in India, and its repair operation is being closely watched as a logistical and technical challenge involving international coordination and high-end military aviation technology.

Major General Manoj Tiwari, the Zone Recruitment Officer based in Lucknow, undertook a two-day visit from July 3 to 4 to monitor the conduct of the Online Common Entrance Exam (CEE) for Agniveer aspirants at centers in Jhansi, Agra, and Mathura. The visit was aimed at ensuring transparency, reviewing protocols, and reaffirming the Indian Army’s commitment to merit-based recruitment.

Major General Tiwari interacted with candidates appearing for the Agniveer recruitment test, a short-term enlistment initiative launched in 2022 under the Agnipath scheme. He reviewed examination procedures and underlined the Indian Army’s push for continuous improvement through technology-enabled processes.

The shift to online examinations is part of a wider digitalization drive within the Indian Armed Forces. According to a recent study by the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA), the implementation of digital testing has led to a 15 percent increase in candidate trust, although rural connectivity and access continue to pose challenges.

The Indian Army has positioned the online CEE as a central element of its candidate-centric approach, which focuses on modernizing recruitment without compromising on quality.

Army officials maintain that the reforms are part of a larger effort to create a responsive, transparent, and inclusive recruitment system. Public debates continue to examine the trade-offs between short-term service models like Agniveer and the security and institutional memory offered by conventional long-term service.

Major General Tiwari’s visit was seen as a reaffirmation of the Indian Army’s evolving recruitment landscape, which increasingly blends technological innovation with a commitment to integrity and opportunity for all.

In a landmark moment for Indian athletics, Lieutenant Colonel Neeraj Chopra delivered yet another golden performance, this time on home soil at the inaugural Neeraj Chopra Classic 2025 in Bengaluru. With a staggering crowd of 14,593 fans packing the Sri Kanteerava Stadium, the event marked a turning point in India’s sporting culture — a genuine celebration of track and field, led by its most iconic athlete.

Wearing two hats — as elite competitor and co-organiser — Lt Col Chopra ensured the success of India’s first-ever World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meet. True to form, the Olympic and World Champion needed just one perfect throw to seal gold. After starting with a foul, his second attempt landed at 82.99 metres, taking him to the top of the leaderboard. When Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage briefly surged ahead with an 84.34-metre effort, Chopra responded with a stunning 86.18-metre throw in cold, windy conditions — a testament to his mental fortitude and championship instincts.

Kenya’s Julius Yego later came close with 84.51 metres, but the gold never looked in doubt. Since 2021, Lt Col Chopra has maintained an unmatched consistency on the global stage — never finishing below second in a major meet.

Yet, beyond the medal, what stood out was the energy in the stands. From rap performances by Haryana’s Dhanda Nyoliwala to dance crews and chants echoing from the famous West Block, Bengaluru showed up — and showed that athletics, too, can command passion and pride in India.

Despite minimal pre-event publicity, the turnout and atmosphere were overwhelming. Most fans were in their seats hours before the first throw, a rare sight in Indian track and field history. For Lt Col Chopra, it was a personal and professional triumph — a chance to inspire and to give back.

“I am happy that the event has finished successfully,” he said at the press conference, reflecting on both the competition and its larger purpose.

The Neeraj Chopra Classic wasn’t just a sporting event — it was a moment of hope, a symbol of what Indian athletics can be. And leading the charge was a soldier-athlete who continues to redefine what’s possible, both on the field and far beyond it.

In a landmark medical achievement, Command Hospital Chandimandir has successfully performed its first bone marrow transplant on a patient suffering from multiple myeloma. The procedure, conducted at the hospital’s newly operational Hematology Centre, marks a significant leap in the Indian Armed Forces’ healthcare capabilities, particularly in the treatment of complex blood cancers and disorders.

The newly inaugurated Hematology Centre is equipped with advanced medical infrastructure, offering integrated services for a wide range of hematological conditions. It is expected to provide not only bone marrow transplants but also advanced therapies such as hematopoietic stem cell transplants and CAR T-cell immunotherapy, a promising frontier in cancer treatment. According to a 2021 analysis published in Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology, CAR T-cell therapies have shown remission rates ranging from 50 to 80 percent in relapsed or treatment-resistant cases, indicating their transformative potential.

The global context further underscores the importance of this achievement. A meta-analysis in Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation reported a 20 to 30 percent increase in survival rates for high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients following stem cell transplantation. Command Hospital Chandimandir’s successful transplant aligns it with such global standards, enabling the Armed Forces to offer cutting-edge treatments in-house without dependence on private or overseas medical institutions.

This accomplishment also highlights the growing focus on self-reliance in military healthcare. As strategic focus and resources often center on defense technology and border security, medical innovations within the armed forces can sometimes go unnoticed. However, breakthroughs like this signal a paradigm shift in India’s defense medical ecosystem.

With plans to further expand services and adopt next-generation therapies, Command Hospital Chandimandir is set to become a benchmark in military and national healthcare, offering advanced medical solutions for servicemen, veterans, and civilians alike.