Royal Navy submarines are in an underwater race against the Russians to recover a £100 million jet that crashed with top-secret technology from the bottom of the Mediterranean.
An RAF pilot was forced to exit his F-35B Lightning as it sank into sea shortly after taking off on ‘routine exercise’ from the Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth. The aircraft was one of eight UK fast-jet aircraft, which included 10 US aircraft.
Falling into international waters on Wednesday, the crash sparked a scramble to find the next generation jet from sea level before it could be reached by Russia. It is not known whether the F-35B ever crashed into the water.
The technology in US-designed aircraft, including top-secret radar and sensors, is extremely sensitive as it allows the F-35 to fly ‘unseen’ over hostile territory at supersonic speeds. However, it is likely that due to spying, China already knows everything there is to know about the jet.
The aircraft was located on Wednesday afternoon and will be manned by an Anglo-US dive protection team at the bottom of the ocean site until the jet is raised to the surface. The operation is believed to have been secrecy and involves divers and small submarines.
As the UK’s most advanced and expensive jet, the single-seater can take off vertically and requires only a short runway to take off. It is Britain’s first loss and the first casualty for the RAF’s F-35B fleet and the £3bn aircraft carrier, which departed the UK seven months ago.
The crash raises new questions about the F-35B, 48 of which Britain is currently set to buy from US airline Lockheed Martin for £9.1 billion by 2025.
In 2018, a US An F-35 pilot was forced to take off in the air after a fighter jet crashed in South Carolina during a training exercise. And last year, a F-35B plane crashes near Naval Air Facility El Centro in California after crashing into KC-130J, defense officials tell USNI News,
An RAF pilot was forced to eject over the Mediterranean yesterday, causing his 100-million-pound stealth jet to crash into the sea
Shortly after landing on ‘routine exercise’ from the Royal Navy’s flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier, the F-35B Lightning (file image) fell into the sea and a rescue team was dispatched to recover the pilot.
Retired Rear Admiral Chris Parry said last night: ‘While an investigation will establish the exact cause of the accident, it appears that the accident was caused by an engine fault.
‘Despite the F-35B’s good safety record, it was inevitable that some of these high-performance aircraft, which operate in the uniquely demanding maritime environment, would have been lost at some stage.’
The Defense Ministry insisted last night that “no hostile action” was involved in the crash. Last night’s investigation focused on technical or human error.
It is being told that the pilot with minor injuries has been rescued from the helicopter. The pilot’s family was informed of the accident before military chiefs issued a statement about the incident yesterday afternoon.
The £3 billion Queen Elizabeth was last known in the eastern Mediterranean, after leaving Oman, sailing to the Far East and attracting the attention of both Russia and China.
The Prince of Wales is due to visit the carrier tomorrow as part of a royal tour of Egypt.
The Lightning is described by the RAF as a fifth-generation fighter capable of air-to-surface attacks and electronic warfare.
The aircraft uses an array of sensors to operate undetected in enemy airspace.
HMS Queen Elizabeth is believed to have not only eight British F-35s but also ten American aircraft on board.
He has done about 2,000 take-offs and landings without incident. When not deployed on the carrier, the UK F-35Bs are stationed at RAF Marham in Norfolk as part of the 617 Squadron (‘Dumbusters’).
In 2020, US military tests found 276 separate defects in the jet’s combat system.
Last night Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said: ‘The F-35 fell into a ditch shortly after takeoff. We are glad that the pilot is safe and back on board. Our operational and training flights are on.
The Ministry of Defense said: ‘A British F-35 pilot from HMS Queen Elizabeth passed out during routine flight operations in the Mediterranean this morning.
Falling into international waters, the crash triggered a scramble to recover the next generation jet from sea level before it could be reached by foreign powers, notably Russia. Above: File image of HMS Queen Elizabeth
‘The pilot has been safely returned to the ship and an investigation has begun, so it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time. No other ships or aircraft were involved.’
An extensive military aerial investigation has been launched by the RAF and US experts.
The US tempted its NATO and other allies to share the cost of the aircraft by offering input into the construction and 15 percent of each is made from parts from British companies while some of the jets will be built in Italy.
But the planes have been plagued by a list of problems, which have driven up costs.
There are fears about shortcomings in the technical systems that the new generation of warplanes will make them unable to function properly.
The actual cost of British aircraft delivered this year is estimated to be in excess of £150 million each to cover ‘extras’ such as software upgrades and spare parts.
There are also concerns that the aircraft’s software systems are vulnerable to cyberattacks and cannot be independently tested by the UK.
Weak broadband on the Royal Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth is also hampering the jet’s capabilities.
Although the focus has been on the cost of the F-35, there have also been embarrassing reports of operational deficiencies from the United States.
In a simulated aerial combat in 2015, the state-of-the-art aircraft was defeated by an older generation F-16, an aircraft designed in the 1970s.
Pentagon tests in 2020 found 276 separate defects in the jet’s combat system.
They included problems with the 25 mm cannon excessive vibration and the aircraft’s ‘virtual reality’ helmet.
Overheating, premature wear of components in vertical tails and vulnerable to fire were also found.
The US Air Force temporarily halted dozens of its F-35 stealth fighters while it investigates an oxygen supply issue.
The Marine Corps, which operates the same F-35B model that the UK has bought, was forced to ground its planes after flaws in computer systems were found.
The F-35: How the aircraft serving HMS Elizabeth are plagued with problems
The delivery of the RAF’s new, US-built F-35B Lightning II joint strike fighter in July 2021 marked a rare moment of celebration in a crisis project.
The ‘fifth generation’ fighter aircraft is the world’s most expensive weapon system, although the cost eventually settled at an eye-watering $406 billion.
Manufacturer Lockheed-Martin agreed to limit costs after US President Donald Trump criticized the project and even tweeted support for a rival plane.
Britain is currently undertaking a £9.1 billion program to buy 48 F-35s from US carrier Lockheed Martin by 2025.
One of the first four F-35B Lightning II aircraft arrives at RAF Marham in Norfolk on June 6, 2018
The US tempted its NATO and other allies to share the cost of the aircraft by offering them input into the construction, and 15 percent of each is made from parts from British companies while some of the jets will be built in Italy.
But the planes have been plagued by a list of problems, which have driven up costs.
There are fears about shortcomings in the technical systems that the new generation of warplanes will make them unable to function properly.
The actual cost of British aircraft delivered this year is estimated to be in excess of £150 million each to cover ‘extras’ such as software upgrades and spare parts.
There are also concerns that the aircraft’s software systems are vulnerable to cyberattacks and cannot be independently tested by the UK.
Weak broadband on the Royal Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth is also hampering the jet’s capabilities.
The problems, not helped by the department responsible for the computer networks needed for the operation of the aircraft, need to find savings of £400 million this year.
Reports of cost and other problems prompted the Defense Select Committee to launch an investigation into the project.
It rebuked the Defense Ministry for keeping Parliament and the public in the dark about the cost.
The MoD has so far refused to provide the UK with an estimated cost of purchasing the F-35, a reference to a National Audit Office that used the £9.1bn figure.
“It is not acceptable for the Defense Ministry to refuse to disclose its estimates to Parliament and the public about the total cost of the programme,” the lawmakers said.
Although the focus has been on the cost of the F-35, there have also been embarrassing reports of operational deficiencies from the United States.
In a simulated aerial combat in 2015, the state-of-the-art aircraft was defeated by an older generation F-16, an aircraft designed in the 1970s.
Pentagon tests in 2020 found 276 separate defects in the jet’s combat system.
They included problems with the 25 mm cannon excessive vibration and the aircraft’s ‘virtual reality’ helmet.
Overheating, premature wear of components in vertical tails and vulnerable to fire were also found.
The US Air Force temporarily halted dozens of its F-35 stealth fighters while it investigates an oxygen supply issue.
The Marine Corps, which operates the same F-35B model that the UK has bought, was forced to ground its planes after flaws in computer systems were found.
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