384 LUH IA-IAF, 'Buy & Make (Indian)' venture, Make in India, 197 LUH tender cancelled in August 2014, HAL's 187 light helicopter programme approved in February 2009 -- behind schedule,[1] 200 Kamov Ka-226T (60 flyaway, 140 HAL) approved in May 2015 contract was expected in 2016, HAL LUH development delayed, 4 proto by 2017, start production by 2018.[2]
Radar
Naval
- LR-MFR - Dual panel multifunction radar for naval application.
F-35
- On 14 June 2025, a Royal Air Force F-35B operating from Royal Navy's HMS Prince of Wales (R09) during Operation Highmast made an emergency landing at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in Kerala, India at 9:28 pm IST. As confirmed by Air Wing Commander Captain Colin McGannity (RN),[1] the stranded F-35B was part of three F-35s which took off from the carrier that evening before "running into inclement weather".[2] After several unsuccessful attempts to land on the carrier, one of them was running low on fuel, prompting the pilot to issue a Squawk 7700 distress call and request permission to divert to the designated emergency recovery airfield. In response, a full-scale emergency was declared at the airport. The jet made a safe landing and was subsequently taxied to and parked in an isolated bay (Parking Bay 4).
- The British authorities later changed the aircrew and ferried in another pilot by a AW101 Merlin helicopter[3] from the carrier at around 5 pm IST the following day. The aircraft was slated to take off from the airport later that day after being cleared from the Indian Ministry of Defence.[4][5][6] The Indian Air Force confirmed the incident, stating that the aircraft was operating outside India’s Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) and was detected and identified by the Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) before being granted clearance to land.[7][8][9]
- Within 48 hours of landing, the aircraft was refuelled, though it failed to return to the carrier due to a hydraulic system and Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) failure.[10][11]
- On 18 June, a "technical team" of three technicians from the UK CSG arrived in the airport to examine the aircraft before its flight back to the carrier. Meanwhile, armed guards from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) were deployed for the aircraft's security.[12][13]
- As of 20 June, the team had failed to rectify the problem following initial assessments,[3] and a larger "maintenance team", consisting of 14 engineers,[14] 10 crew members[15][16] and a special tow vehicle,[17] was expected to arrive from the UK and the US. If on-ground repairs prove ineffective, the aircraft could be partially dismantled — wings and tails removed — and airlifted by a military transport aircraft like a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III back to the UK.[11][18] Reportedly, the Royal Navy rejected Air India's offer to relocate the aircraft to one of the latter's hangar in the airport. This was likely due to the sensitive nature of the advanced technologies integrated into the aircraft.[19]
- On 25 June, The Hindu cited the British High Commission spokesperson that the UK intended to repair the jet at the civilian airport itself. They also announced that the jet would be towed to the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facility hangar after the specialist equipment and UK engineering team arrive in order to avoid "disruptions to the regular airport operations".[20][21] The Royal Navy would have to pay the parking fees at the airport.[22][23]
- Over time, the jet became the subject of numerous memes, ranging from being listed for sale on OLX—an Indian online marketplace—and receiving an Aadhaar card, to being featured in promotional tweet by the Kerala's Tourism Department[24] and appearing in various AI-generated images created by social media users.[25][26][27]
- As of 4 July, six RAF crew members from the aircraft carrier has been stationed in the airport to ensure the security of the aircraft in shifts while their accommodation and security is been looked after by the Indian authorities.[28][29]
- On 6 July, at 12:46 pm IST, the maintenance team with their equipment arrived onboard an Airbus A400M Atlas. Subsequently, the jet was transferred to a hangar. The aircraft flew from RAF Brize Norton (Oxfordshire, the UK) to RAF Akrotiri (Cyprus) on 4 July, from Akrotiri to Muscat International Airport on 5 July, and from Muscat to Thiruvananthapuram on 6 July.[17][30]
- As of 10 July, the jet is being repaired and it is expected to return to the UK the following week as per Indian officials cited by the Associated Press.[27] While the jet completed a month in the Indian airport on 14 July, repair works were underway at Hangar 2 of Air India and UK engineers were still to find the issue that caused the problem.[31]
- As of 16 July, the repair works have entered the final stages with the aircraft refuelled as part of inspecting the operational efficiency and mandatory safety checks. Following repair works, the aircraft will be taken to the airside from the hangar. Then, the equipment and engineers are expected to fly back ahead of the departure of the F-35, which is expected by 23 July. The crew had applied for the Aerodrome Entry Permit (AEP) — a security clearance necessary for a person to access the restricted areas of an airport — for a month. In addition to the MoD, a clearance from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs is also required for the aircraft to fly back.[32][33]
- Ahead of the schedule departure from the airport, the fighter jet was taken out of the hangar on 21 July. While the jet is expected to depart on 22 July, the expert team of engineers will depart onboard a C-17 of the RAF on 23 July. Additionally, the British authorities are expected to pay a parking fees of around ₹5 lakh (£4,500) to the airport authorities. The amount is based on the aircraft's size and weight, the crew's use of airport's amenities as well as hangar fees charged by AI Engineering Services Ltd. of Air India. The parking fee on daily basis itself amounts to ₹15,000 (£130)–₹20,000 (US$240).[34]
- On 22 July, the F-35B departed from the airport towards Darwin, Australia.[14][35]
- In the night of 23 July, the expert team, with 17 members and 11 crew, along with their specialist equipment departed from Thiruvananthapuram onboard an A-400M aircraft which arrived from Diego Garcia. Prior to departure, Flight Lieutenant Thom Sayer of the British team met with the airport staff to express gratitude for the support provided by the authorities during the timeframe. In turn, the airport authorities thanked No. 207 Squadron RAF, Marham, for their visit and the honour of receiving a distinguished military memento.[36]
Navy new engine
Indian Navy issued the Approval in Principle for the Indigenous Gas Turbine Marine Engine Development Program for a 24–28 MW (32,000–38,000 hp) engine on 28 July 2025. The project will proceed under Make-I category of Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020. The engines will power capital ships of the Navy in future. While four prototypes would be manufactured during development, an order for over 40 engines could be placed later.[1][2]
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