China Reportedly Takes Possession of F-35 Parts Diverted to Hong Kong
The Chinese government has reportedly taken possession of two components from an Australian F-35 fighter after the shipment was unexpectedly diverted to Hong Kong, according to Bloomberg.
The shipment, handled by UPS in late May, contained a cockpit canopy and weapons-bay door from a Royal Australian Air Force F-35 that was being sent to the United States for inspection and possible repair or disposal.
Bloomberg reported that both components were supplied by Lockheed Martin and included radar-absorbing material associated with the aircraft’s stealth characteristics. The shipment reportedly passed through South Korea before being routed to Hong Kong, although the reason for the diversion remains unclear.
The F-35 Joint Program Office has confirmed a “shipment issue” involving unserviceable F-35 components and said U.S. authorities and industry partners are working to retrieve them and investigate what happened.
Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles has said the components were not understood to be sensitive equipment.
There is currently no public evidence that the incident resulted in the loss of critical F-35 avionics or classified operational systems.
Source: Bloomberg