Pentagon Probing F-35 Parts in China   09/24 06:21

   

   WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Pentagon is investigating how parts of the 
https://apnews.com/article/f35-fighter-jet-saudis-trump-deal-299b47534e121923851
e18fd02a57799 ended up in Hong Kong, with a news outlet reporting Wednesday 
that China has obtained the F-35 equipment.

   The F-35 Joint Program Office said in a statement that it and the Defense 
Department are aware of "a shipment issue" with F-35 components.

   "We 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," the office said.

   Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles acknowledged that the jet 
components ended up in Hong Kong when responding to questions from reporters 
Tuesday. But he denied that the missing parts were "sensitive equipment."

   Australia is one of several nations whose militaries operate the stealth 
fighter jet.

   "Yeah, so we are obviously working with the United States and obviously with 
its prime contractor Lockheed Martin, in respect of this," Marles said.

   He added: "My understanding is that there is a sense of comfort, and we're 
not talking about sensitive equipment here or sensitive parts. Ultimately, 
though, this is an issue which is going to be managed by the United States and 
by Lockheed in terms of what has occurred."

   Lockheed did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment Wednesday, 
when 
https://apnews.com/article/trump-xi-arrival-washington-state-visit-baea8dbdb8c83
2ae1b295579709dc967 for a state visit with President Donald Trump. China's 
Foreign Ministry said it was not aware of the incident, and the Hong Kong 
government said it would not comment on specific cases.

   Bloomberg reported Wednesday that China has the F-35 parts -- a cockpit 
canopy and weapons-bay door -- after the shipment was unexpectedly diverted to 
Hong Kong while on the way from Australia to the United States for either 
repair or disposal months ago. It was not clear how the shipment was diverted.

   
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/18/congress-f-35-china-investigation-01083
647 that it prompted a congressional inquiry over concerns that China could 
have access to key components of the highly classified technology.

   Beijing has kept tight control over Hong Kong since the territory was 
returned from British rule in 1997. Hong Kong cannot maintain its own military 
or conduct its own diplomacy.

   The first F-35 Lightning strike fighter rolled off an assembly line in Texas 
about 20 years ago and was hailed as a technological leap. Since then, more 
than 1,200 of the stealth jets have been made and 19 countries have placed 
orders for the planes, according to the Congressional Research Service.

   China already may have had at least some intelligence, albeit several years 
old, on the planes already. The Defense Science Board, which advises the 
Pentagon, released a report in 2013 alleging that Chinese cyberattacks accessed 
data from dozens of Pentagon programs, including the joint strike fighter.

   The F-35 is "widely recognized as America's best and most advanced fighter 
jet," according to Bradley Bowman, senior director of the Center on Military 
and Political Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a hawkish 
Washington-based think tank.

   
https://apnews.com/article/f35-fighter-jet-saudis-trump-deal-299b47534e121923851
e18fd02a57799 that American military systems are constantly being updated and 
improved, counteracting any possible secrets stolen years ago.

   Described as a fifth-generation fighter, the F-35's technologies include 
stealth coatings as well as advanced radar and sensors, according to the 
https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R48304.

   Bowman said the plane has advanced sensors to better detect enemies as well 
as networking capabilities to communicate with allied planes and ground forces 
during combat.