Missing F-35 stealth parts rerouted to Hong Kong spark US security concerns

A cargo of highly classified F-35 fighter-jet parts that was supposed to travel from Australia to the United States was unexpectedly redirected to Hong Kong, raising alarms in Washington. The US Department of Defense said some components have vanished and the matter is now under congressional scrutiny, amid concerns that Beijing may obtain the technology. Among the missing items was a cockpit canopy overlay coated with a radar-absorbing material, essential for the aircraft’s stealth capability and produced only for the US and its partners.

The cargo was moved by an external logistics firm, not by US or Australian armed forces, and the reason for the diversion remains unknown. Lockheed Martin, the aircraft’s manufacturer, stated it follows all US regulations for part transport but will not comment on shipment status for security reasons. Analysts warn that possession of the canopy could allow Chinese engineers to reverse-engineer the stealth coating, advancing their own military aviation programs.