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The U.S. Congress has reportedly launched an investigation after sensitive components from the F-35 fighter jet were unexpectedly diverted to Hong Kong and subsequently went missing, raising concerns about how closely the aircraft’s highly sensitive supply chain is being monitored.
The parts were reportedly shipped from Australia to the United States for repairs before being diverted to Hong Kong while crossing the Pacific this summer. Two sources told Politico that the shipment included an F-35 canopy containing technology associated with the aircraft’s stealth capabilities, potentially raising concerns about unauthorized access to sensitive technology. The report was based on three anonymous sources.
The F-35 Joint Program Office confirmed that it was aware of a shipment involving unserviceable F-35 Lightning II components. The office said it was working with U.S. authorities and industry partners to recover the parts, investigate what happened and introduce safeguards to prevent a similar incident.
Hong Kong authorities declined to comment on individual cases, while China’s embassy reportedly said it was unaware of the incident. The U.S. State Department also declined to comment.
U.S. officials reportedly briefed congressional staff serving key national security committees about the incident in June, with additional briefings expected. The investigation comes as Washington continues to scrutinize the security of the F-35’s international supply network.
Lockheed Martin manages the aircraft program’s broader supply chain and uses commercial shipping companies to move components. The company said it would not discuss individual shipments for security reasons, but stated that it complies with U.S. regulations governing the transportation of aircraft components.
The incident also highlights longstanding concerns over accountability within the F-35 spare-parts system. A 2023 Government Accountability Office investigation found that more than 1 million spare parts worth over $85 million had been reported lost by one F-35 prime contractor since 2018. Less than 2 percent of those losses had been reviewed by the F-35 Joint Program Office.
The GAO found that the Pentagon did not maintain a complete independent record of the global F-35 spare-parts pool, with contractors maintaining much of the relevant inventory information. The watchdog said this created risks for property accountability and the management of missing or damaged components.
Those concerns remain relevant. A 2026 GAO report found that the F-35 Joint Program Office was still working to improve property accountability, including inventory and data-management procedures for aircraft parts.
If the reported diversion is confirmed, investigators will need to determine how the shipment was rerouted, why the components were not recovered, and whether any sensitive technology was exposed before the parts disappeared.
