F-35 Parts Bound For US Diverted To Hong Kong, Seized By China; Pentagon Probes Mystery Shipment

Washington is investigating how sensitive components from an Australian F-35 stealth fighter ended up in Hong Kong after being shipped to the US for repairs, with China reportedly taking possession of the parts.

The components, which included a cockpit canopy and a weapons bay door, were sent from Australia in May but were diverted to Hong Kong after the shipment stopped in South Korea, according to reports. Bloomberg reported that Chinese authorities subsequently took possession of the parts and have not returned them.

Both Australia and the Pentagon are investigating how the shipment was rerouted to Hong Kong, a special administrative region of China.

Why The F-35 Parts Matter

The components reportedly carried radar-absorbing material that forms part of the F-35's stealth capability. The technology is among the closely guarded elements of the US-designed aircraft, whose ability to evade radar is central to its operational advantage.

The concern for US defence officials is that access to genuine F-35 components could potentially provide China with information about the materials and design features used to reduce the aircraft's radar signature.

Military aviation analyst JJ Gertler told Politico that China has long sought F-35-related information through various means. Having physical components, he said, could allow Beijing to verify or refine information it may already have obtained.

The concern is particularly relevant because China operates its own advanced stealth fighters, including the J-20, and is developing the J-35.

How Did The Parts Reach Hong Kong?

Australia operates a fleet of 72 F-35A Lightning II fighter jets. In May, UPS was tasked with transporting the F-35 components to the US for repairs.

Shipment data showed that the package stopped in South Korea before being diverted to Hong Kong. The reason for the diversion remains unclear.

Lockheed Martin, which manufactures the F-35, manages the aircraft's global supply chain and uses commercial carriers to transport components.

Neither Australia nor the US has publicly explained how the shipment was redirected despite several months having passed since the incident.

The Pentagon has confirmed that it was aware of a "shipment issue" involving unserviceable F-35 Lightning II components. It said efforts were under way to recover the equipment and introduce safeguards to prevent a similar incident.

Australia Says Parts Were Not Sensitive

Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles acknowledged that the components were in Hong Kong but said they were not sensitive.

Marles said the matter ultimately concerned the US and Lockheed Martin, as the aircraft's prime contractor responsible for managing the global supply chain.

Lockheed Martin has said it complied with US regulations governing the shipment of the aircraft components.

The latest reports have nevertheless raised questions about how closely controlled F-35 components can be diverted during international transit.

More Than 1 Million F-35 Spare Parts Reportedly Went Missing

The incident has also drawn attention to longstanding problems with the F-35's sprawling spare-parts supply chain.

While the US Defence Department oversees the F-35 programme, Lockheed Martin is responsible for accounting for the spare parts.

According to a 2023 accountability report cited by Politico, more than 1 million F-35 spare parts went missing over a five-year period, with the losses amounting to tens of millions of dollars.

The Hong Kong incident is different in that the components reportedly ended up in territory under Chinese control.

The Pentagon is now working to retrieve the parts and determine how they were diverted, while Australia and US authorities continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the shipment.