Parts from an Australian F-35 stealth fighter have reportedly ended up in Chinese possession after a shipment sent to the United States for inspection went missing during transit, according to a Bloomberg report.
The consignment reportedly contained an F-35 cockpit canopy and weapons-bay door that Australia had returned to Lockheed Martin in the US for inspection, possible repair or disposal.
Sources familiar with the matter, who spoke to Bloomberg on condition of anonymity, said the shipment was sent in late May 2026 but took an unusual route before reaching its intended destination.
The cargo plane reportedly stopped in South Korea before the shipment was diverted through Hong Kong. Bloomberg described the routing as “inexplicably” changing course, after which Chinese authorities took possession of the consignment.
The reason for the stop in South Korea remains unclear, while details of how the shipment reached Hong Kong and came under Chinese control have not been established.
The components are considered potentially sensitive because parts of the F-35 are covered with radar-absorbing material designed to enhance the aircraft’s stealth capabilities. Bloomberg reported that the composition of the coating could be more sensitive from a military perspective than the physical components themselves.
The timeline indicates that Australia sent the F-35 parts to the US in late May for inspection, possible repair, or disposal. The shipment subsequently stopped in South Korea before being routed through Hong Kong, where Chinese authorities reportedly took possession of it.
China has not returned or released the components. The Chinese Foreign Ministry in Beijing has also said it was unaware of the missing F-35 parts.
Bloomberg reported that Chinese espionage efforts have targeted the F-35 programme for years, with Beijing seeking information about the technology behind one of the world’s most advanced fighter aircraft.
The sensitivity surrounding the aircraft has previously affected discussions about potential sales to countries outside the F-35 programme’s closest circle of allies. Concerns about possible Chinese access to sensitive technology contributed to the collapse of a US effort to sell F-35s to the United Arab Emirates during Donald Trump’s first presidency.
Australia has said it is examining the chain of events surrounding the missing shipment from its end. However, the country appears confident that its own process for returning the components was not responsible for the loss.
The circumstances have raised questions over whether the shipment’s rerouting through Hong Kong resulted from a weakness in the carrier’s procedures or whether the cargo was deliberately intercepted.
The Pentagon said it was working to recover the “unserviceable F-35 components” and investigating how they ended up in Chinese possession.
The incident is also expected to prompt a review of procedures surrounding the transportation of sensitive military equipment to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Lockheed Martin similarly described the parts as unserviceable and played down the likelihood that they could be exploited. The company also said it uses secure carriers required by the US government for such shipments.
UPS, which Bloomberg reported disclosed the incident to US authorities, has not provided further public comment on the matter.
The development comes as Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in the United States for a state visit hosted by Trump, with the incident adding another sensitive issue to the wider US-China security relationship.
