WEBDESK: In a shocking incident, a security official in India is accused of stealing classified stealth technology from a British F-35 fighter jet and handing it over to a Russian agent.
India is once again under the spotlight for allegedly posing a growing threat to global security, with serious implications now extending to NATO’s defence integrity.
According to Azad Digital’s independent research, the espionage scandal has unfolded in Thiruvananthapuram, a southern Indian city, stirring concerns in political and military circles across Europe.
A member of India’s Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has allegedly extracted and passed on samples of the radar-absorbing coating used on the British Royal Navy’s F-35B Lightning II aircraft.
Emergency landing led to security breach
The Royal Navy’s advanced fighter jet was forced to make an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on June 14 due to a technical fault.
Indian CISF officers were assigned to guard the aircraft until British technical teams could arrive.
Azad Digital’s research reveals that during this window, a CISF constable secretly removed approximately 0.5 grams of the aircraft’s stealth coating from its underside.
The material was then allegedly handed over to a Russian agent in a public park in the Thumba-Kazhakoottam area on the morning of June 19. The agent reportedly fled the area by boat just minutes later.
F-35 tech: Why the coating matters
Experts say the F-35’s low-observable (LO) technology does not rely solely on its design but critically on a classified radar-absorbing coating.
The compound, based on a proprietary polymer blend, significantly reduces the aircraft’s visibility to radar systems.
Even a tiny amount, experts argue, can reveal vital chemical and engineering secret, potentially allowing adversaries to replicate the technology or develop effective countermeasures.
India-Russia Defence Ties in the Spotlight
Although India has recently expanded its defence ties with the US, France, and other Western powers, Russia remains its largest arms supplier. The stolen F-35 material could be of immense strategic value to Moscow, currently facing stringent Western sanctions. Analysts warn that such a leak may serve as a form of “technological barter” between India and Russia.
Time-line of events
- 14 June: F-35B makes an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram Airport.
- 15–16 June: CISF personnel assigned to secure the aircraft pending British team arrival.
- 18 June (Night): The paint sample was covertly removed from the aircraft by a CISF guard.
- 19 June, 05:10 am: The sample is reportedly exchanged for cash and handed over to a Russian operative in Thumba Park.
- 19 June, 05:25 am: The Russian agent escapes by sea.
Diplomatic fallout and global implications
This incident may severely undermine trust between the UK and India.
According to Azad Digital, Britain had already declined India’s request to move the aircraft to a hangar.
This breach may now increase preexisting concerns. If rival defence programmes learn about the stealth coating, NATO’s technological advantage may also be weakened.
The fallout may extend to wider strategic frameworks such as the Quad Alliance (QUAD), with partners like the US and Australia reconsidering the reliability of intelligence and defence cooperation with India.
What India might do next
Sources suggest India may attempt to downplay the scandal by quickly returning the aircraft and treating the act as a case of individual misconduct driven by personal greed. The accused official is expected to be arrested to avoid broader accountability.
Recommended actions
Azad Digital recommends a forensic investigation of the aircraft and a review of the protocols governing the landing of NATO aircraft in non-NATO countries.
An independent judicial inquiry in India, along with full disclosure of surveillance footage and official logs, is also urged.
This espionage case not only threatens India’s credibility as a responsible defence partner but also casts doubt on the coherence of its multi-aligned foreign policy.
In the coming weeks, India’s official response will reveal whether this was a rogue incident, or part of a deeper, more deliberate strategic shift.
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