Maintenance Work on Grounded UK F-35B Fighter Jet Completed in Kerala, Expected to Fly Out Soon.

A UK F-35B fighter jet grounded in Kerala has completed maintenance works and is expected to return to its UK base by early next week, subject to clearance from the Ministry of External Affairs and Defence. The aircraft, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, had developed snags in its auxiliary power unit and required an expert team to fix the issues. The British authorities will pay a hefty parking fee to the Thiruvananthapuram airport for the days the aircraft has been parked here.

A UK F-35B fighter jet, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, has completed maintenance works at the Thiruvananthapuram airport in Kerala and is expected to return to its UK base by early next week, subject to clearance from the Ministry of External Affairs and Defence [1]. The aircraft, which had made an emergency landing on July 14, experienced issues with its auxiliary power unit, necessitating the service of an expert team [1].

The British authorities have reportedly paid a hefty parking fee to the Thiruvananthapuram airport for the days the aircraft has been parked. The estimated daily fee ranges between ₹15,000 and ₹20,000 [1]. The equipment and engineers brought to Kerala will also be taken back to the UK in a couple of days [1].

Lockheed Martin Corporation, the manufacturer of the F-35B, has seen increased institutional interest in its shares. Easterly Investment Partners LLC raised its stake by 47.1% during the first quarter, owning 2,810 shares after purchasing an additional 900 shares [2]. Other institutional investors, such as Millstone Evans Group LLC, TruNorth Capital Management LLC, Mizuho Securities Co. Ltd., Heck Capital Advisors LLC, and Redwood Park Advisors LLC, have also acquired new stakes in the company's stock [2].

In terms of financial performance, Lockheed Martin reported earnings per share of $7.28 for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.34 [2]. The company also declared a quarterly dividend of $3.30, representing a $13.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.81% [2]. Analysts have provided mixed ratings for Lockheed Martin, with some setting a "hold" rating and others assigning a "strong-buy" or "buy" rating [2].

References:
[1] https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/repairs-on-uk-fighter-jet-grounded-in-kerala-completed-aircraft-likely-to-fly-out-soon/article69830571.ece
[2] https://www.marketbeat.com/instant-alerts/filing-lockheed-martin-corporation-nyselmt-stock-position-raised-by-easterly-investment-partners-llc-2025-07-18/