WASHINGTON — The Pentagon is investigating the disappearance of sensitive F-35 Lightning II components after a shipment traveling from Australia to the United States for repairs was diverted to Hong Kong this summer.
The incident was first reported by POLITICO on September 18. The shipment was being transported by a commercial intermediary on behalf of Lockheed Martin, which manufactures the F-35 and manages its global spare-parts pool. The Pentagon has confirmed that some of the components are missing, while the reason for the diversion and the current location of the equipment remain unclear.
There is currently no public evidence that China obtained or inspected the missing parts.
F-35 Canopy Among Missing Components
One of the components was an F-35 cockpit canopy, according to people familiar with the shipment. The canopy includes a thin transparent radar-absorbent layer that contributes to the aircraft's low-observable characteristics.
Australia operates F-35s but does not currently have the capability to repair these canopies. As a result, unserviceable canopies are sent to the United States for repair through the F-35 program's multinational logistics network.
The program uses commercial shipping providers to transport components between participating countries. Spare parts are held in a shared global pool owned by the U.S. Defense Department until they are installed on aircraft.
Pentagon and Lockheed Martin Response
The F-35 Joint Program Office said it is “aware of a shipment issue of unserviceable F-35 Lightning II components.” It said officials are working with U.S. authorities and industry partners to recover the equipment, investigate the incident and establish safeguards against similar problems.
Lockheed Martin declined to discuss the specific shipment for security reasons. The company said it follows U.S. regulations for shipping aircraft components and maintains safeguards to protect the F-35 program and allied partners.
The incident has also led to closed-door congressional briefings. Pentagon and State Department officials briefed congressional national-security staff beginning in June, with additional briefings expected.
Earlier F-35 Spare-Parts Concerns
The case has renewed attention on F-35 spare-parts accountability. A 2023 Government Accountability Office report found that more than 1 million F-35 spare parts, valued at more than $85 million, had been reported missing or lost over a five-year period. The GAO also found that the F-35 Joint Program Office did not independently track many of these parts, with contractors maintaining the records.
Those earlier losses have not been linked to the Hong Kong incident.
F-35 Costs
The incident comes amid continued attention to F-35 program costs. Average flyaway prices for the latest production lots are approximately $92 million for the F-35A, $121.4 million for the F-35B and $110.8 million for the F-35C, according to F-35 Joint Program Office figures.
Investigators are now seeking to establish why the shipment was diverted, who handled the components after they reached Hong Kong, where the missing parts are located and whether any sensitive technology was compromised. The F-35 Joint Program Office continues its recovery and investigation efforts.
——— End of Article ———
