Classified F-35 aircraft components disappear after diverted to Hong Kong from Australia - report
The incident raised concerns that China may gain access to the highly classified technology of sophisticated US aircraft, Politico reported Friday.
A shipment of sensitive F-35 stealth fighter jet components, en route from Australia to the United States for repairs, was unexpectedly rerouted to Hong Kong. The case, reported by Politico, has raised worries that China may acquire access to the highly classified technology used in these advanced US weapons. The shipment, managed by a broker for Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the F-35, left Australia and was diverted en route to Hong Kong, leaving the fate of the critical components uncertain.
The Pentagon confirmed the loss of some of these parts, and the F-35 Joint Chiefs of Staff acknowledged being aware of the situation and are working with US authorities and industry partners to recover the components, investigate the incident, and implement measures to prevent future occurrences. Among the missing parts is the cockpit canopy, which is not only an essential protective layer for pilots but also a crucial part of the F-35's stealth capabilities, coated with radar-absorbing material to minimize the aircraft's detectability.
China's persistent efforts to gather intelligence on the F-35 have heightened concerns, as even possessing the physical components could provide additional insights to Chinese analysts, potentially enhancing their understanding of the technology's materials and production methods. The incident has sparked a series of briefings in Congress, reflecting the gravity of the situation in Washington.
The Chinese Embassy in Washington has declined to comment on the matter, as has the US State Department, while Lockheed Martin cited security reasons for not discussing the status of the shipments. The F-35 supply chain, a complex global network involving multiple countries for manufacturing, transportation, and repairs, underscores the critical nature of the components' safe handling and tracking.
Despite over a million spare F-35 parts reportedly going missing between 2018 and 2023, the Pentagon has been unable to verify the loss of parts valued at tens of millions of dollars due to the lack of information from Lockheed Martin and other prime contractors overseeing the shipment's details.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
