Stranded in India: How the UK might recover the stricken Royal Navy F-35B

A Royal Navy F-35B has been stuck at an airport in the Indian state of Kerala for nearly two weeks after it was unable to return to HMS Prince of Wales due to bad weather.

The Lightning has cut a bit of a lonely figure on the airfield ever since making the emergency landing despite attempts by Royal Navy ground crew to repair the jet after it developed an engineering issue.

HMS Prince of Wales is already in Singapore, and there is no UK base within the 900 nautical mile range of where the jet currently is.

• HMS Dauntless arrives in Singapore as New Zealand frigate joins CSG25
• Royal Navy F-35 from CSG25 makes emergency landing at civilian airport in India
• F-35B Lightning jets pictured in Singapore after HMS Prince of Wales' arrival in city state

So when they finally get it fixed, what's next?

Would something like a C-17 Globemaster be needed to fly it out?

The US Air Force has managed to do this with an F-35 after removing the wings from the aircraft, but this would be a major undertaking.

And there's a reason it’s been kept out in the open and not been moved into the hangar – the F-35 is one of the UK military's most advanced aircraft.

Landing in a public place like a civilian airport for a plane like this is not ideal.

There are concerns about India – or anyone else – getting a look at the technology.

A member of India's Central Industrial Security Force is said to be guarding it.

While India does have a strong relationship with the UK, it also has close ties with Russia.

Efforts are ongoing to get the plane up and running again.

The Ministry of Defence says work is taking place to get it repaired as quickly as possible.

For more reports about Carrier Strike Group 25, click here.