Fell into the hands of the Chinese? Classified parts of the F-35 fighter jet disappeared in Hong Kong
A shipment of sensitive components from F-35 stealth fighter jets, including a cockpit canopy with stealth coating, was diverted from Australia to the US to Hong Kong and disappeared. The Pentagon confirmed the loss, and investigators fear China may gain access to classified technology. The incident, first reported by Politico, led to briefings in Congress.
A shipment of sensitive components from F-35 stealth fighter jets, en route from Australia to the United States for repairs, was unexpectedly diverted to Hong Kong and disappeared, according to a report by Politico. Citing three sources familiar with the matter, the shipment included the aircraft's cockpit canopy—a key component of the stealth envelope, coated with radar-absorbent material. The concern is that China could gain direct access to classified technology. The Pentagon confirmed that some components went missing. The F-35 program office stated it is working with authorities to recover the parts and investigate the incident. The incident prompted briefings for staff on national security committees in Congress. China's embassy in Washington said it was unaware of the incident. Lockheed Martin declined to discuss shipment details. The event follows a 2023 US Government Accountability Office report that found over one million F-35 spare parts had gone missing over five years.