Classified F-35 aircraft components disappear after diverted to Hong Kong from Australia - report

A shipment of sensitive components for the F-35 stealth fighter jets, which was on its way from Australia to the United States for repairs, was unexpectedly diverted to Hong Kong and disappeared. The incident raised concerns that China may gain access to the highly classified technology of sophisticated US weapons, Politico reported Friday. According to three sources familiar with the details of the case, the shipment left Australia headed for the United States. However, the flight was diverted en route to Hong Kong. It is unclear who currently holds the classified components or whether they are being transferred to Chinese authorities A broker handled the shipment for Lockheed Martin, the maker of the F-35. The Pentagon confirmed that some of the components were missing. The Defense Department’s F-35 Joint Chiefs of Staff said it was “aware of the issue with the shipment of unserviceable F-35 Lightning II components” and that it was working with US authorities and industry partners “to recover the components, investigate the incident, and institute safeguards to prevent a similar incident from occurring again.” According to two of the sources who spoke to Politico, the shipment included one of the aircraft’s cockpit canopies. The canopy is not just a transparent covering that protects the pilot, but a key component of the F-35’s stealth envelope. China is trying to obtain more information about US aircraft

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Published

19 Sep 2026

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