An unread email – and the secrets of the world's most advanced fighter jet reached China

A severe security breach in the F-35 fighter jet's supply chain: sensitive components, including the cockpit canopy and weapons bay door coated with radar-absorbent material, were mistakenly shipped to Hong Kong. The source of the failure was an unread warning email by a shipping company employee. The Pentagon and US authorities have launched an investigation amid fears that China exploited the opportunity to decipher stealth technology.

A severe security breach in the supply chain of the advanced F-35 fighter jet was revealed in a Bloomberg report: a shipment containing two sensitive military components of the American stealth aircraft was mistakenly routed through Hong Kong, in violation of strict US security regulations. The incident began in late May, when two F-35 components were sent from Australia to the United States for possible repair or disposal. The shipment included the cockpit canopy and a weapons bay door, both coated with radar-absorbent material, a critical element of the aircraft's stealth systems. The original route was intended to pass through South Korea and Taiwan, but a delay led to a misrouting through Hong Kong. Shipping company DSV sent an email reminder to UPS about arms export control regulations, but the message may have been sent through a different computer system and the warning went unread. Experts warn of an intelligence risk. Diana Maurer, responsible for support reviews of the F-35 program at the US Government Accountability Office, noted this is a significant event: "It's not good that the Chinese now have an F-35 canopy… I'm sure the Chinese celebrated, and then started working on reverse engineering." However, the report itself has not yet presented official proof that the components were actually examined by Chinese intelligence. The Pentagon and State Department have launched comprehensive investigations. Lockheed Martin stated that its logistical decisions are not made unilaterally and that the company is working to strengthen oversight.