- Sensitive F-35 components mistakenly routed through Hong Kong.
- Logistics error caused by missed ITAR warning email.
- Sparks major US military supply chain and espionage concerns.
Two sensitive components of the US F-35 stealth fighter were mistakenly sent through Hong Kong after a warning about restrictions on their movement was apparently missed by a logistics employee, raising fresh concerns about the security of America’s military supply chain, Bloomberg reported.
The shipment contained an F-35 cockpit canopy and a weapons-bay door, both fitted with radar-absorbing material that helps reduce the aircraft’s radar signature. The components were being sent back to the US in late May for possible repair or disposal and were described by the Pentagon as “unserviceable”.
The parts were initially scheduled to travel from Australia to San Francisco through South Korea and Taiwan. But after the shipment left Australia later than planned, it was redirected through Hong Kong in an attempt to speed up delivery, according to a person briefed on the incident.
A Missed Message Changed The Route
The shipment was being handled by freight forwarder DSV A/S on behalf of F-35 manufacturer Lockheed Martin. Before it was rerouted, DSV had sent an email warning that the cargo was subject to International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and could not pass through certain countries.
The UPS employee responsible for the shipment apparently missed the warning. According to Bloomberg’s report, the email may have gone through a different IT system from the one used by the employee.
The newly revealed details were discussed by Pentagon officials during a September 29 briefing with staff members of the House Foreign Affairs and Armed Services committees. Bloomberg had first reported last month that the F-35 components were missing.
Concern Over What The Parts Could Reveal
The incident has attracted particular attention because the F-35 is one of the US military’s most technologically advanced aircraft and the most expensive weapons programme in American history. China has previously been the focus of US concerns over espionage targeting the programme.
Diana Maurer, who oversees F-35 support reviews at the non-partisan Government Accountability Office, said the loss was significant.
“It’s not good the Chinese now have an F-35 canopy,” she told Bloomberg, describing it as “a big deal.”
“I’m sure the Chinese celebrated, and then they got busy trying to reverse engineer it and figure out how to counter it with their own technical capabilities. I’m sure that’s what they were up to once they got those things,” Maurer added.
Washington Scrambles For Answers
The Pentagon and State Department are investigating the incident, while lawmakers have called for a broader examination of how sensitive military equipment is transported internationally.
US Transportation Command said it “was not involved in the transportation or coordination of the shipment in question.”
The Defence Department said it was working with US authorities and industry partners to recover the components and establish how the shipment ended up on the restricted route.
“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 department said.
Erica Plath, the deputy assistant secretary of defence for logistics, told lawmakers during the September 29 briefing that a team she had assembled was working on measures to prevent a similar incident. A State Department official from the Directorate of Defence Trade Controls, which oversees US defence export controls, also attended the meeting.
Lawmakers Ask If It Was Really An Accident
The episode has prompted questions on Capitol Hill about whether the diversion was simply a logistics failure. Senator Mark Warner sought the Pentagon briefing, while Senate Intelligence Committee chairman Tom Cotton called for a review of the military supply chain.
Senator Kevin Cramer, who chairs the Armed Services Committee panel examining the case, raised the possibility that the shipment may have been deliberately intercepted.
“Did China have a plan all along to intercept this?” Cramer asked.
Lockheed Martin said its logistics decisions are not made unilaterally and that carriers are selected based on their ability to meet government requirements.
“While we cannot discuss the details of which logistics partner was involved, we are working closely with them to help develop and implement preventive measures to strengthen our collective oversight and prevent recurrence,” the company said.
After being presented with the latest details, Lockheed said Wednesday that “we have nothing to add or correct on the series of events you mentioned.”
As per Bloomberg’s report, DSV spokesman Stephan Ghisler-Solvang and UPS spokesman Malcolm Berkley declined to comment on the incident.
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As per Bloomberg’s report, DSV spokesman Stephan Ghisler-Solvang and UPS spokesman Malcolm Berkley declined to comment on the incident.