IAF says it identified and detected UK's F35B fighter jet: Has India cracked the 'stealth code'?

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has successfully identified and detected a Royal Navy F-35B — a multirole “stealth” aircraft — after it made an emergency diversion near Thiruvananthapuram last week.

The F-35 Lightning jet is equipped with advanced sensors, mission systems, and low-observable technology — often called stealth — that enable it to operate undetected in hostile environments.

So, the incident has raised a key question: has India cracked the code to track aircraft designed to evade radar and operate undetected in hostile airspace?

“A Royal Navy F-35B fighter recovered off an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on the night of 14 June 25. Operating from UK Aircraft Carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, it was undertaking routine flying outside Indian ADIZ with Thiruvananthapuram earmarked as the emergency recovery airfield," the IAF said in a post on X.

This means the F-35B was not supposed to land in Thiruvananthapuram; it was a diversion due to an unspecified emergency.

Nevertheless, the IAF’s Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) successfully identified and cleared the aircraft for recovery — a key demonstration of its ability to track a sophisticated, low-observable aircraft under unusual conditions.

“On having declared a diversion off an emergency, the F35B was detected and identified by the IAF’s IACCS network and cleared for the recovery. IAF is providing all necessary support for the rectification and subsequent return of the aircraft," IAF added.


This reveals two key points. First, the IACCS — a network of sensors, radars, and control centers — was able to track and identify the F-35B despite its stealth capabilities. Second, the IAF responded promptly and efficiently, offering all necessary support for the aircraft’s recovery and eventual return to its operations.

F-35B: A multirole, low-observable aircraft

The F-35B is designed to perform a range of missions — from air-to-surface and electronic attack to air-to-air operations — while avoiding radar and remaining hard to track.

It carries advanced sensors and mission systems that allow it to operate in hostile airspace, share data securely, and employ its own weapons in a high-threat environment. The UK Royal Air Force first put it into service in 2018, and the Royal Navy followed in 2020.

As a short take-off and vertical landing aircraft, the F-35B can operate from aircraft carriers and forward bases in austere conditions.

The multirole fighter is also able to gather and distribute battlefield information through its sophisticated sensor suite, strengthening the capabilities of the platforms and forces that operate alongside it.

Project Kusha: India's move toward self-reliance

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) are currently developing Project Kusha, a homegrown long-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system designed to match the capabilities of advanced platforms like the S-400.

This is alongside the QRSAM, the QRS Air Defence Control System “Akashteer”, and the operational S-400s already deployed by the IAF.

Project Kusha aims to integrate numerous sensors and control systems to form a multilayered air defence network — strengthening India's ability to respond to aerial threats promptly and effectively.