A shipment of F-35 stealth fighter parts was “inexplicably diverted to Hong Kong” and is now in the hands of Chinese authorities, Bloomberg reported, prompting a Pentagon investigation into how they got there.
The shipment, which UPS was transporting from Australia to the United States for repair or disposal on behalf of contractor Lockheed Martin, was unexpectedly rerouted across the Pacific in late May. The missing components include an F-35 cockpit canopy and a weapons-bay door.
While officials note the components do not contain the aircraft’s most advanced avionics or electronic warfare systems. Both parts are coated with radar-absorbent material, including a transparent coating designed to minimize the fighter’s signature on enemy radar. Physical access to these materials could allow Beijing to study, reverse-engineer, or verify intelligence on the jet’s stealth capabilities.
The Pentagon’s F-35 Joint Program Office confirmed the incident in a statement, noting it is “aware of a shipment issue of unserviceable F-35 Lightning II components.”
“We are actively working with U.S. authorities and industry partners to retrieve these components, investigate the incident, and place safeguards to avoid a future occurrence,” a defense official said.
Lockheed Martin stated that it follows all federal regulations governing military transport, adding: “Our teams handle every shipment with the utmost diligence and safeguards to ensure the integrity of the F-35 program and the security of our allied partners.”
The diversion has ignited immediate concern on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers on national security committees have launched inquiries. Politico reported that U.S. State Department and Pentagon officials first began briefing congressional staff on the matter in June.
The incident highlights systemic vulnerabilities in the F-35’s massive, multinational supply chain. While Australia operates maintenance depots for the aircraft, it lacks facilities to repair degraded canopy coatings, requiring commercial air travel back to the United States.
Under the program, participating allies pool and store spare parts internationally, but tracking has long been a weak point. A 2023 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report revealed that more than 1 million F-35 spare parts —worth more than $85 million— had gone missing over a five-year period, largely because prime contractors, rather than the Department of Defense, maintain the inventory records.
In Canberra, Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles acknowledged the missing shipment but downplayed the immediate risk. “My understanding is that there is a sense of comfort, and we’re not talking about sensitive equipment here or sensitive parts,” Marles said, adding that Australia is working closely with Lockheed Martin and Washington.
However, defense analysts and U.S. lawmakers view the situation far more gravely. The F-35 is widely considered the crown jewel of Western air power and is operated by close allies including the U.K., Australia, Japan, and Canada.
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