Pentagon Probes Diversion of F-35 Stealth Parts to Hong Kong
The missing components included a canopy with stealth coating, and officials said more than 1 million F-35 spare parts have gone missing in five years.
- On Tuesday, Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles confirmed that F-35 fighter jet components shipped from Australia were diverted to Hong Kong. The shipment, bound for the United States for repairs, has been missing since June.
- An intermediary transporting the parts for Lockheed Martin rerouted the consignment mid-Pacific, which included a cockpit canopy containing stealth technology. The Pentagon described these components as "unserviceable," though exact contents remain undisclosed.
- Congressional staff began closed-door briefings in June regarding the diversion, intensifying oversight into supply chain vulnerabilities. A 2023 Government Accountability Office report previously found over 1 million spare parts had gone missing from the program.
- The Pentagon confirmed it is working with U.S. authorities and industry partners to "retrieve these components, investigate the incident, and place safeguards to avoid a future occurrence." Experts warn physical possession could facilitate reverse-engineering of stealth technology.
- This incident renews scrutiny of the F-35's global sustainment network amid China's documented history of targeting classified U.S. defense programs. The current location and custody of the missing parts remain unknown, complicating retrieval efforts.
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Following reports that F-35 fighter jet parts were diverted to Hong Kong during transport and ended up in the hands of the Chinese government, members of Congress from both parties wrote to War Secretary Peter Hagerses, urging a review of the security of the U.S. military supply chain.
WORLD NEWS: F35 Parts Take a Detour Nobody Wanted
Photo: Steve Mann / Shutterstock When F-35 components bound for U.S. repair depots were diverted to Hong Kong, it did more than trigger a retrieval effort; it exposed a brittle sustainment architecture that outsources custody, masks visibility, and leaves national-security shipments vulnerable to exactly the kind of misrouting that now has Congress asking who, exactly, is in charge. The Short Version F-35 parts in contractor-managed transit from…
It is currently unknown whether the diversion of the shipment is the result of coincidence or the success of Chinese espionage activity.
Report: Chinese Government Took Possession of F-35 Stealth Fighter Parts Diverted to Hong Kong
Already a subscriber? Make sure to log into your account before viewing this content. You can access your account by hitting the “login” button on the top right corner. Still unable to see the content after signing in? Make sure your card on file is up-to-date. The Chinese government has taken possession of F-35 stealth fighter parts that were diverted to Hong Kong while being shipped from Australia to the US. Some shit you should know…
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