Chinese authorities are believed to possess components of the F-35 stealth fighter jet after a shipment was unexpectedly rerouted to Hong Kong, according to reports. The incident has reignited concerns over the security of sensitive U.S. military technology.
UPS was transporting a cockpit canopy and a weapons bay door from Australia to the United States in late May when the cargo was diverted, Bloomberg reported on Thursday, citing sources familiar with the matter. Both parts were treated with a radar-absorbing coating designed to enhance the aircraft’s stealth profile. The reason for the diversion remains unclear.
Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles confirmed on Tuesday that his government was aware of the shipment and is collaborating with the U.S. and Lockheed Martin to determine how Canberra can assist in the ongoing investigation. Despite the nature of the cargo, Marles stated that he understood no sensitive parts were included in the missing shipment, according to CNN.
Requests for comment from Lockheed Martin, UPS, and the Pentagon regarding the incident were not immediately returned by CNBC.
The F-35, a fifth-generation fighter manufactured by Lockheed Martin, is strictly controlled by Washington and sold only to close allies and partners. The U.S. previously excluded Turkey from the program in 2019 after Ankara purchased the Russian S-400 air defense system, which Washington feared could be used to gather intelligence on the F-35’s capabilities.
Beijing has been targeted in previous espionage cases involving F-35-related data, as noted by U.S. prosecutors in a 2024 indictment. These security worries persist despite a $24 billion sale of F-35s to Saudi Arabia approved last week by the State Department.
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat from Illinois, has expressed strong objections to the sale, warning that it could allow the Chinese Communist Party to access what he described as the “crown jewels” of American military technology. The F-35 fleet includes operators such as the U.S., Australia, Belgium, Japan, Canada, and Singapore, and has seen combat use by the U.S. during recent conflicts with Iran, including an incident where one aircraft was damaged by enemy fire.
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