The UK's F-35B short take-off/vertical landing stealth fighter has once again caused embarrassment. Recently, a UK Air Force F-35B experienced a technical failure and made an emergency landing at Kagoshima Airport in southern Japan. This incident did not result in any casualties. According to officials at Kagoshima Airport, the event occurred shortly after 11:30 local time on August 10. The airport's air traffic control received a radio signal from the fighter pilot requesting an emergency landing due to a technical problem. To ensure the safe landing of this stealth fighter, Kagoshima Airport cleared the runway and moved the aircraft to the taxiway shortly after landing. It took a total of 20 minutes, allowing the airport to reopen the runway.
The Japanese Ministry of Defense confirmed that the F-35B that made an emergency landing at Kagoshima Airport belongs to the UK Air Force and is deployed on the British Navy's "Princess of Wales" aircraft carrier. This British carrier, along with escort ships, is currently deployed in the Western Pacific, conducting joint exercises with the Japanese Self-Defense Forces and the U.S. military.
This emergency landing of the F-35B is the second within two months. In late June, a UK Air Force F-35B aboard the "Princess of Wales" aircraft carrier had to make an emergency landing in Kerala, western India, due to a technical problem. It remained there for nearly a month before returning to the "Princess of Wales" aircraft carrier. Consecutive emergency landings of F-35B fighters have embarrassed the UK. With a limited number of aircraft, they keep having problems, which makes the UK look bad. This trip to the Asia-Pacific was meant to show off, but instead exposed their shortcomings.
Repeated emergency landings indicate that the F-35B is too complex in structure and unreliable.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1840080323972108/
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