UK’s F-35B plane lands in India, sparking talk of link to Israel-Iran conflict

Some analysts, however, say the plane’s emergency landing in Kerala reflects the close defence ties between India and the UK

The emergency landing of a British F-35B stealth fighter in southern India has turned public attention to the deepening defence cooperation between London and New Delhi, with the incident interpreted as a symbol of their growing strategic alignment.

Valued at over US$100 million, the hi-tech aircraft was diverted to the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in Kerala last Saturday following a suspected hydraulic system failure during a routine flight over international waters. The F-35B earlier took off from the Royal Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, according to several Indian media reports.

The Indian air force coordinated with local air traffic controllers to facilitate an unscheduled landing for the aircraft. Technicians were airlifted by the Royal Navy to carry out repairs on the F-35B, the reports added.

Although Thiruvananthapuram has been designated as a diversion airfield for British naval aircraft operating in the region before the incident, the sight of one of the world’s most advanced warplanes landing unexpectedly on Indian soil has sparked public speculation.

The timing of the incident against the background of worsening tensions in the Middle East has prompted questions of whether it signalled broader defence ties between the UK and India or otherwise.

The incident should be seen as a reflection of deepening security cooperation between both countries, rather than a response to the Middle East conflicts, according to analysts.

“It’s symbolic of growing trust and deeper defence ties, especially in joint training, technology sharing, and strategic alignment,” said Chris Blackburn, a British political and security analyst.

An escalation in the conflict between Israel and Iran has heightened tensions across the Middle East and raised concerns about a broader regional fallout.

While the coordination between India and the UK over the F-35B’s flight is not directly linked to the Israel-Iran conflict, their defence partnership could broaden if the conflict were to worsen, according to analysts.

“It signals a tightening of Western-aligned defence networks in Asia, which could complicate Iran’s strategic calculations. They aren’t tied to the Israel-Iran conflict but they could be if the crisis escalates out of control,” Blackburn said.

Last month, India and the UK signed a free-trade agreement to reduce tariffs and ease market access, which could become a platform for both sides to boost cooperation in other areas, analysts said.

“Defence is now following trade. Strategic convergence is the logical next step in a post-Brexit world. But the partnership and vision for India and UK/European defence have been developing for years,” Blackburn said.

As a reflection of the defence ties between India and the UK, the repair of the fighter jet would have involved a “small army of technicians” attending to a weapon system of modern warfare and observation of sensitive maintenance protocols by both sides, he added.

Indian airport authorities have provided accommodation and Western-style meals to the entire British crew who were involved in repairing the aircraft.

Lockheed Martin’s F-35B is a fifth-generation fighter aircraft equipped with advanced stealth technology and capable of short take-offs and vertical landing.

The UK’s HMS Prince of Wales carrier strike group has held a series of joint exercises with the Indian navy in the key Indo-Pacific region.

As part of Operation Highmast, the carrier strike group is being deployed over eight months to take part in exercises involving more than 40 countries and port visits in the Mediterranean, Middle East, and Indo-Pacific regions, with the aim of highlighting the UK’s commitment to global security and partnerships with its allies.

‘Bigger objective’?

Noting the deployment of UK naval assets in the Arabian Sea, Priyajit Debsarkar, a London-based author specialising in South Asian political and security issues, said the F-35B’s extended stay in India had raised the question of whether there could possibly be a “bigger objective”.

Vivek Mishra, deputy director of the strategic studies programme at the Observer Research Foundation, however, said the aircraft’s landing in India was likely due to a glitch rather than an advanced deployment related to the Middle East conflict.

On Thursday, US President Donald Trump announced that he would make a decision about any potential US military involvement in Israel’s war with Iran within two weeks.

Earlier this week, the leaders of G7 nations attending a summit in Canada appealed for a de-escalation of conflicts in the Middle East, including calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

Trump abruptly left the summit a day earlier than scheduled, raising alarm over a possible escalation in the conflict between Israel and Iran.