Classified F-35 parts reach Hong Kong, prompting U.S. investigation

Classified F-35 components mistakenly ended up in Hong Kong, triggering an American congressional probe, according to Politico on September 18. The shipment, originally destined for the United States for repairs, was redirected across the Pacific while en route from Australia. The Pentagon confirmed the absence of certain parts.

The cargo was handled by a third party for F-35 manufacturer Lockheed Martin, and subsequently arrived in Hong Kong. The reason behind the altered route remains unclear. This incident prompted several briefings for U.S. congressional staff dealing with national security matters. Pentagon and State Department officials made lawmakers aware of the situation in June, with further briefings anticipated.

Among the missing items was an F-35 cockpit canopy, which houses stealth technology and is solely accessible to the United States and its allies. If acquired by a potential rival, this component could be inspected to gather information on its design and the aircraft's low-observability technology. The Pentagon's F-35 Joint Program Office acknowledged the incident and is collaborating with U.S. government entities and industry partners to recover the components, investigate the cause, and enhance security protocols.

These concerns arise from Hong Kong's status as a special administrative region of China, which has seen increased control over the territory since the implementation of national security laws. This situation poses a risk that sensitive technology could fall into Chinese hands. The F-35 supply chain is a worldwide network encompassing numerous facilities in various countries responsible for repairing and transporting parts.

Although Australia possesses repair facilities for the aircraft, it cannot currently service cockpit canopies. Lockheed Martin oversees the program's supply system and employs commercial carriers for component transportation. The F-35 program involves the United States and several allies, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Denmark, Norway, and Poland.

These nations utilize a shared reserve of spare parts stored at various locations, which are officially under Pentagon control until installed on actual aircraft. The U.S. Department of War has recently intensified oversight of the F-35 supply chain, but the Department has not compiled a complete inventory of spare parts within the shared pool.

Lockheed Martin manages this accounting, as reported by Politico. A 2023 report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office revealed that over one million F-35 spare parts had been lost over the previous five years. Auditors stated that the Pentagon could not accurately gauge the extent of losses involving parts valued in the tens of millions of dollars due to the restricted access to relevant data by the prime contractor.

On September 18, the BBC reported that the Trump administration's plan to sell Saudi Arabia 48 advanced F-35 fighter jets had raised concerns in Congress. Lawmakers questioned whether the deal "could place the crown jewels of U.S. military technology in the hands of the Chinese Communist Party" through espionage or Beijing's close military and technological links with Riyadh.

In July, Trump indicated his intention to approve the sale of F-35s to Saudi Arabia. If the deal proceeds, Riyadh would receive some of the most sophisticated U.S. combat aircraft, but Washington would need to implement additional safeguards to protect critical technology from potential access by third countries.