Chinese authorities are reportedly in possession of F-35 stealth fighter parts after components of the aircraft were “inexplicably diverted to Hong Kong.” <\/p>\n
Shipping giant UPS was sending a cockpit canopy and weapons bay door to the U.S. from Australia in late May when it was diverted, Bloomberg reported<\/a> on Thursday, citing sources.<\/p>\n Both parts were coated with a radar absorbing material that enhances their stealth capabilities, the sources said, and it was not clear why the shipment was diverted to Hong Kong. <\/p>\n On Tuesday, Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles told reporters<\/a> Tuesday that Australia was aware of the shipment, and was working with the U.S. and Lockheed Martin to see how Canberra can assist in the investigation. <\/p>\n Marles also said it was his understanding that no sensitive parts were in the missing shipment, according to CNN. <\/p>\n Lockheed Martin, UPS and the Pentagon didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment from CNBC. <\/p>\n The F-35 is a fifth-generation stealth fighter made by Lockheed Martin, and Washington controls the sale of these aircraft only to its closest partners and allies. <\/p>\n For example, Turkey was excluded<\/a> from the F-35 program in 2019 after the country purchased the Russian S-400 anti-aircraft system, which raised fears that the Russian system could be used as an intelligence collection platform to learn about the aircraft’s capabilities.<\/p>\n China has targeted F-35-related U.S. military data in past espionage cases, according to U.S. prosecutors in 2024<\/a>. <\/p>\n A $24 billion sale of F-35s to Saudi Arabia was approved last week<\/a>, but some lawmakers in Congress<\/a> have already expressed concerns over the technology finding its way into Chinese hands.<\/p>\n Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) said that the U.S. intelligence community has warned that the sale “could put the crown jewels of American military technology within reach of the Chinese Communist Party.”<\/p>\n Users of the fighter jet include Australia and Belgium, as well as the U.S. itself, with other countries like Japan, Canada and Singapore having also ordered the aircraft. <\/p>\n