Pentagon investigates after China obtains parts from F-35 stealth fighter jet
The Defense Department is working with Lockheed Martin and U.S. authorities to retrieve the components and prevent a repeat, officials said.
- On Thursday, the Pentagon announced an investigation into how F-35 components were diverted to Hong Kong, with the F-35 Joint Program Office coordinating with U.S. authorities and industry partners to retrieve the parts.
- Bloomberg reported Wednesday that a cockpit canopy and weapons-bay door were unexpectedly diverted to Hong Kong while en route from Australia to the United States for repair or disposal months ago.
- Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles acknowledged on Tuesday that components ended up in Hong Kong but stated there is a "sense of comfort," adding that Australia is working with Lockheed Martin and the United States on the matter.
- The diversion prompted a congressional inquiry into potential access to classified F-35 technology, with lawmakers pressuring the Defense Department to review export-control protocols and security procedures.
- A 2013 Defense Science Board report alleged Chinese cyberattacks accessed data from Pentagon programs including the F-35, suggesting this diversion fits a broader pattern of efforts to acquire advanced stealth technology.
15 Articles
15 Articles
Pentagon investigating how parts of F-35 stealth fighter jet arrived in Hong Kong instead of U.S.
The Defense Department is investigating how a shipment of parts for its most advanced fighter jet reportedly ended up in Chinese custody after being mistakenly delivered to Hong Kong.
The big F-35 jet mystery: Parts bound for US, missing in Hong Kong, seized by China
Sensitive parts of a US F-35 stealth fighter jet, bound for Washington from Australia, mysteriously landed in Hong Kong. The parts have now been seized by China - a major US military rival. Why is it a concern for the US?
The Pentagon is investigating how parts of a state-of-the-art US fighter jet ended up in Chinese-administered Hong Kong. Bloomberg reported on Wednesday that China had obtained parts of equipment for the F-35 "stealth fighter" jet.
According to a 2023 accountability report, more than 1 million F-35 parts have been lost in the past five years. More...
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