Pentagon investigates how F-35 fighter jet parts ended up in China

The Pentagon has launched an investigation after components from the newest American F-35 fighter jet unexpectedly turned up in the hands of Chinese authorities. At issue are a cockpit canopy and weapons bay doors, which were originally supposed to be shipped from Australia to the United States for inspection, repair, or disposal.

According to sources cited by Bloomberg, the shipment made a stop in South Korea en route, after which it was redirected to Hong Kong, where Chinese authorities took possession of the parts. Why the route was changed — and whether this was an error or a deliberate act — remains unclear. Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles confirmed only that the F-35 parts had indeed ended up in Hong Kong, adding that, according to his information, the equipment was not "sensitive." The Pentagon has not officially confirmed the reports, but says it is already working with U.S. agencies and industry partners to recover the components.

Why this matters

The F-35 is a fifth-generation fighter jet, one of the most advanced combat aircraft in the world. Its key feature is stealth technology, which reduces its visibility to radar. According to the agency's sources, the parts that ended up in China were coated with radar-absorbing material. If confirmed, careful analysis could theoretically give Beijing insight into certain elements of the aircraft's design.

Particularly concerning is the fact that China itself is actively developing and testing its own stealth fighters. The U.S. has long worried that details of the F-35's design could fall into the hands of Chinese specialists. Still, based on what is known so far, the current incident does not appear to mean Beijing has gained access to all the aircraft's technological secrets — whether these specific parts could yield useful insight into F-35 technology remains unconfirmed.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz