US F-35 Stealth Fighter Parts Diverted to Hong Kong, Seized by China

A shipment of F-35 stealth fighter components was inexplicably diverted to Hong Kong in late May and is now in the possession of Chinese authorities.

The Pentagon launched an investigation into how the parts, which include an F-35 cockpit canopy and a weapons-bay door, arrived in Hong Kong. UPS was transporting the components from Australia to the United States for repair or disposal on behalf of contractor Lockheed Martin. While the parts do not contain the aircraft’s most advanced avionics or electronic warfare systems, both are coated with radar-absorbent material designed to minimize the fighter’s signature on enemy radar.

Physical access to these materials could allow Beijing to study, reverse-engineer, or verify intelligence on the jet’s stealth capabilities. The Pentagon’s F-35 Joint Program Office confirmed the incident, stating it is aware of a shipment issue of unserviceable F-35 Lightning II components. A defense official said authorities are actively working with U.S. authorities and industry partners to retrieve these components, investigate the incident, and place safeguards to avoid a future occurrence.

Lockheed Martin stated it follows all federal regulations governing military transport. The diversion prompted inquiries from lawmakers on national security committees on Capitol Hill, with U.S. State Department and Pentagon officials briefing congressional staff in June. Australia, an F-35 program partner, operates maintenance depots but lacks facilities to repair degraded canopy coatings, necessitating commercial air travel to the United States. The cause of the diversion, whether an accidental error or a Chinese espionage operation, remains unclear.