F-35 Hong Kong diversion: F-35 parts sent from Australia to US end up in China, report says; investigation underway as fears grow over sensitive stealth technology reaching Beijing
According to a Politico report, the shipment was rerouted while crossing the Pacific, citing three people familiar with the matter. The Pentagon has confirmed that some F-35 components went missing. However, it remains unclear why the shipment was diverted or who currently possesses the parts.
F-35 parts shipment diverted to Hong Kong
The components were being transported by an intermediary for F-35 manufacturer Lockheed Martin from Australia to the US for repairs. The shipment ultimately ended up in Hong Kong.
The incident has prompted US officials to examine whether sensitive F-35 technology could have been exposed. State Department and Pentagon officials briefed congressional staff working on key national security committees, with the first briefings reportedly taking place in June.
The latest reports do not establish that China has obtained or examined the F-35 components. The concern centres on the possibility of access following the unexplained diversion.
F-35 cockpit canopy raises security concerns
According to two people familiar with the matter cited by Politico, the shipment included an F-35 cockpit canopy. The component incorporates technology designed to support the aircraft’s stealth characteristics.
A person with access to such a component could potentially study its construction and materials, raising concerns about possible efforts to analyse or reverse-engineer aspects of the technology.The Pentagon’s F-35 Joint Program Office confirmed it was aware of the incident.
The office said it was “aware of a shipment issue of unserviceable F-35 Lightning II components”.
It added that it was working with US authorities and industry partners “to retrieve these components, investigate the incident, and place safeguards to avoid a future occurrence”.
Could China learn more about F-35 stealth technology?
J.J. Gertler, a former House Armed Services Committee staff member and Congressional Research Service military aviation analyst, told Politico that China has previously sought F-35 information through espionage.
Gertler said that even if China already had technical specifications or other information about particular components, obtaining an actual physical part could potentially help verify or refine information already acquired.
However, there is currently no public evidence establishing that Chinese authorities have obtained or examined the missing F-35 parts.
Why Hong Kong diversion has raised concern
The destination has added to the security concerns surrounding the incident. Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China, and Beijing has expanded its control over the territory in recent years.
The F-35 programme also operates through an extensive international supply chain involving the US and allied countries, including the UK, Australia, Denmark, Norway and Poland.
Lockheed Martin manages the programme’s broader supply chain and relies on commercial shipping providers to transport components between locations.
Australia operates F-35 aircraft and has maintenance facilities, although the country does not currently have a facility equipped to repair F-35 canopies, according to the Politico report.
What makes the F-35 canopy sensitive?
The F-35 canopy is an acrylic cockpit enclosure that incorporates a thin layer of transparent radar-absorbent material. The coating is designed to help reduce the aircraft’s visibility to enemy radar.
Over time, the coating can deteriorate, meaning canopies may need to be repaired or replaced.
Lockheed Martin declined to discuss individual shipments, citing security reasons, but said it follows US regulations governing the transportation of aircraft components.
“Our teams handle every shipment with the utmost diligence and safeguards to ensure the integrity of the F-35 program and the security of our allied partners,” the company said.
The US State Department declined to comment on the report, while the Chinese embassy said it was not familiar with the incident.
F-35 spare parts tracking has faced scrutiny
The latest incident has also renewed attention on the F-35 programme’s handling and tracking of spare parts.
A 2023 US Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found that a prime contractor had incurred losses involving more than one million F-35 spare parts worth over $85 million since May 2018. The F-35 Joint Program Office had reviewed less than 2% of those identified losses at the time examined by GAO.
GAO said the Pentagon lacked complete records on losses and the disposition of F-35 spare parts, raising concerns about accountability and management of the global spares pool.
F-35 programme faces wider sustainment challenges
The F-35 programme has also faced broader concerns over spare-parts availability, maintenance and rising sustainment costs.
A 2026 GAO assessment said F-35 sustainment costs had continued to rise and that the aircraft fleet had not met performance goals. It also identified continuing challenges involving spare parts and industry capacity.
Inputs from TOI
