China reportedly takes possession of diverted F-35 components

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The Chinese government has taken possession of sensitive F-35 stealth fighter components that were diverted to Hong Kong while being shipped from Australia to the United States, Bloomberg reported.

The components, a cockpit canopy and a weapons-bay door coated with radar-absorbing material, were being sent to the US for inspection and possible repair or disposal. The development has raised concerns over the security of technology linked to the F-35’s stealth capabilities.

Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles confirmed that the parts had been mistakenly rerouted and said Australia was working with the United States and Lockheed Martin to assist with the investigation.

According to people briefed on the matter, UPS was transporting the components for an intermediary working for F-35 manufacturer Lockheed Martin when the shipment was diverted in late May. The parts stopped in South Korea before being redirected to Hong Kong. It remains unclear why the diversion occurred or whether it was intentional.

Politico first reported the incident on September 18, leading to congressional inquiries. The Pentagon’s F-35 Joint Program Office said it was aware of a shipment issue involving unserviceable F-35 Lightning II components and was working with US authorities and industry partners to recover them, investigate the incident and strengthen safeguards.

The cockpit canopy has drawn particular concern because it contains a transparent radar-absorbing coating that helps reduce the aircraft’s visibility to enemy radar. Two people told Bloomberg that an adversary could examine the components and potentially attempt to reverse-engineer the stealth technology.

The incident has also led to briefings for congressional staff on national security committees. State Department and Pentagon officials first briefed lawmakers in June, with further briefings expected in the coming weeks.

The case has renewed scrutiny of the F-35’s international supply chain. Lockheed Martin oversees the program’s logistics and uses commercial shipping companies to move components between maintenance facilities.

A 2023 Government Accountability Office report found that more than one million F-35 spare parts had gone missing over five years, while prime contractors, rather than the Pentagon, maintained tracking records.

Marles said he understood that no sensitive parts were included in the missing shipment, while Bloomberg reported that both diverted components contained classified stealth coatings. Lockheed Martin said its teams handle shipments with safeguards designed to protect the integrity of the F-35 program.