The United States Navy is trying to retrieve its most advanced fighter jet from the depths of the South China Sea, an extremely complex operation that analysts say will be closely monitored by Beijing
Seoul, South Korea .
The F-35C, a single-engine stealth fighter and the newest jet in the US Navy fleet, crash-landed on the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson during routine operations on Monday, the Navy said.The $100 million warplane impacted the flight deck of the 100,000-ton aircraft carrier and then fell into the sea as its pilot ejected, Navy officials said. The pilot and six sailors aboard the Vinson were injured.
US submarine hits underwater object in South China Sea 02:06There has been no official Chinese comment on the crash, with state media reporting it only citing"foreign media."But China will almost certainly want to get a look at the lost F-35, analysts said.
Rare footage shows US patrol of South China Sea 02:56But such an operation would present political risks, said Collin Koh, research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore."To overtly go about doing this may risk worsening tensions with the US. I don't believe Beijing has stomach for that," he said. "However, we can expect the Chinese to shadow, hang around and keep tabs on any such American salvage and recovery operation," Koh said.
The U.S. military's $400B fighter jet 02:27"My question is whether you truly leave behind nothing of potentially consequential intelligence bonanza amongst the scattered smithereens on the seabed -- which any interested party with the capability may still retrieve after all?" Koh said.This US Navy recovery effort will mark the third time a country flying the F-35 has tried to pull one from the depths.
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