WASHINGTON — The Pentagon is investigating how F-35 parts in Hong Kong were diverted from a shipment, after officials acknowledged a consignment of components from the nation’s most advanced fighter ended up there and a media report said China obtained the equipment.
The F-35 Joint Program Office said it and the Department of Defense are aware of a shipment issue involving F-35 components. In a statement, the office said it is working with U.S. authorities and industry partners to retrieve the items, determine what happened, and implement measures to prevent a recurrence.
Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles, responding to questions from reporters on Tuesday, confirmed the F-35 components were in Hong Kong. He said his understanding is that the items were not considered sensitive equipment, and that the matter would be managed by the United States and prime contractor Lockheed Martin.
Australia is among several countries that operate the stealth fighter. Marles said Canberra is coordinating with the United States and Lockheed Martin on the issue.
Lockheed Martin did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday. Requests for comment were also sent to the Chinese embassy and Hong Kong’s trade office in Washington.
According to a report published Wednesday, China has possession of two F-35 parts, identified as a cockpit canopy and a weapons-bay door, after a shipment traveling from Australia to the United States months ago was unexpectedly diverted to Hong Kong for repair or disposal. It was not clear how the diversion occurred. A separate report said the development prompted a congressional inquiry over concerns that China could access key elements of highly classified technology.
Beijing exerts tight control over Hong Kong, which returned from British rule in 1997. The territory does not maintain its own military or conduct independent diplomacy.
F-35 parts in Hong Kong amid wider program context
The first F-35 Lightning II rolled off a Texas assembly line about two decades ago. More than 1,200 aircraft have since been produced, and 19 countries have ordered the jet, according to the Congressional Research Service.
U.S. defense advisers reported in 2013 that Chinese cyber intrusions accessed data from dozens of Pentagon programs, including the joint strike fighter, suggesting Beijing may already possess some, albeit dated, information on the aircraft.
The F-35 is widely regarded as the United States’ most advanced fighter, featuring stealth coatings, sophisticated radar, and sensor suites. Analysts note the jet’s sensors enhance detection of adversaries and its networking capabilities allow communication with allied aircraft and ground forces during combat.
Experts also emphasize that U.S. military systems are continually upgraded, mitigating risks from older compromises. The Pentagon’s review of the diverted shipment is ongoing as officials pursue recovery of the components and assess additional safeguards.
In a separate development involving federal oversight, authorities recently charged a dozen people in an alleged benefits scheme, as detailed in Dozen charged in California childcare payment fraud case.