Australia acknowledged Tuesday that F-35 fighter jet parts bound for the United States were mistakenly diverted to Hong Kong, putting a shipment tied to America’s advanced stealth fighter program on Chinese territory.
Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles confirmed the mishap as U.S. officials worked to recover the components and lawmakers sought answers about how the shipment went astray.
“We’ve been made aware of this, and we’re obviously working with the United States and Lockheed in terms of how we can assist in this investigation,” Marles told reporters in Adelaide.
The parts were supposed to travel from Australia to the United States for repairs. Instead, the shipment was rerouted to Hong Kong, a special administrative region of China, according to Politico, which first reported the incident last week.
The reason for the diversion and the components’ current whereabouts remained unclear.
Marles said his understanding was that the missing shipment contained no sensitive parts. Still, the incident raised concerns about Beijing potentially gaining access to American military technology, a longstanding worry for U.S. officials.
Politico, citing three people familiar with the matter, reported that an intermediary was transporting the components for F-35 manufacturer Lockheed Martin when the shipment was diverted this summer.
The Pentagon confirmed Tuesday that components were missing. A Defense Department spokesperson told CNN that the F-35 Joint Program Office was “aware of a shipment issue of unserviceable F-35 Lightning II 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 spokesperson said.
The mishap has also prompted briefings for congressional staff serving on key national security committees, Politico reported. State Department and Pentagon officials briefed staff in June, with additional sessions expected in the coming weeks.
Marles said Australia was reviewing its involvement but defended the country’s handling of its responsibilities.
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“We are examining very much everything that has occurred at the Australian end, but the point I would make here is that we are confident about the way in which we’ve engaged with the program,” he said.
“This is ultimately a matter for the US and Lockheed, as its prime contractor and the contractor that is responsible for managing the global supply chain,” Marles added.
An Australian Department of Defence spokesperson said the government takes the “protection of classified and export-controlled technologies extremely seriously.”
CNN said Lockheed declined to discuss the shipment’s status, citing security reasons. The company said it follows regulations established by the U.S. Defense Department and Defense Logistics Agency.
“Our teams handle every shipment with the utmost diligence and safeguards to ensure the integrity of the F-35 program and the security of our allied partners,” Lockheed said.
The company bills the fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II as the “most lethal, survivable and connected fighter aircraft.”
U.S. officials have long warned about China’s efforts to obtain sensitive information about American weapons, including F-35 designs. A June U.S. Air Force report detailed Beijing’s efforts to study U.S. military advances while expanding its development of stealth aircraft and air defenses designed to counter them.
Australia is one of eight F-35 partner nations, alongside the United States, Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Canada, Denmark and Norway, according to Lockheed. Several other countries also have F-35 programs.
Australia received its first F-35 in 2014, and its air force reached full operational capability in 2025, the company’s website said.
Hong Kong’s government declined to comment to CNN, while the U.S. consulate referred questions to the State Department. CNN also sought comment from the department and the House and Senate Armed Services committees.
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[ H/T Trending Politics ]
