Chinese authorities are reported to be in possession of parts of the F-35 stealth fighter after components of the plane were “inexplicably diverted to Hong Kong.” Shipping giant UPS was shipping a cabin cover and weapons bay door to the United States from Australia in late May when it was diverted, Bloomberg reported Thursday, citing sources. Both sides were coated with a radar-absorbing material that enhances their stealth capabilities, the sources said, and it was unclear why the shipment was diverted to Hong Kong. On Tuesday, Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles told reporters that Australia was aware of the shipment and was working with the United States and Lockheed Martin to see how Canberra can assist in the investigation. Marles also said he understood there were no sensitive parts in the missing shipment, according to CNN. Lockheed Martin, UPS and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to CNBC’s requests for comment. The F-35 is a fifth-generation stealth fighter manufactured by Lockheed Martin, and Washington controls the sale of these aircraft only to its closest partners and allies. For example, Turkey was excluded from the F-35 program in 2019 after the country purchased the Russian S-400 anti-aircraft system, raising fears that the Russian system could be used as an intelligence gathering platform to learn about the aircraft’s capabilities. China has targeted U.S. military data related to the F-35 in previous espionage cases, according to U.S. prosecutors in 2024. A $24 billion F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia was approved last week, but some lawmakers have already expressed concerns about the technology getting into Chinese hands. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) said the U.S. intelligence community has warned that the sale “could put the crown jewels of U.S. military technology within the reach of the Chinese Communist Party.” Users of the fighter jet include Australia and Belgium, as well as the US itself, and other countries such as Japan, Canada and Singapore have also ordered the aircraft. The United States also used F-35s during the conflict with Iran, and one aircraft was damaged by enemy fire, according to the Department of Defense.
