U.S. senator demands Pentagon supply chain review after F-35 parts land in China

Senator Tom Cotton, the Republican head of the Senate Intelligence Committee, has urged Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to conduct a review of the Pentagon's supply chain security in light of sensitive F-35 parts ending up in Chinese hands. The Congressional Democrat raised concerns about the logistics of transporting defense materials, stating that speed and ease should not come at the cost of American military superiority.

The issue came to light after Bloomberg News reported that Chinese authorities seized an F-35 cockpit canopy and weapons-bay door, both equipped with stealth coatings, from a United Parcel Service flight that diverted through Hong Kong. Cotton's letter to Hegseth called for an evaluation of chain-of-custody protocols, real-time shipment tracking, altered route approval procedures, and measures to prevent transit through foreign territories.

Experts note that while the lost parts are not sufficient to construct an entire aircraft, the possession of radar-absorbing materials and precise stealth components offers valuable intelligence for Chinese authorities. The Pentagon, which is responsible for the global F-35 supply chain, has faced criticism from lawmakers for inventory management shortcomings and lost spare parts in international distribution.

The incident comes amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and China, as President Donald Trump hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington.