Pentagon Probes How F-35 Parts Reached Hong Kong

The Pentagon is investigating how components of the F-35 stealth fighter jet ended up in Hong Kong, after a shipment from Australia was unexpectedly diverted to the territory.

The F-35 Joint Program Office said it and the Defense Department were aware of a shipment issue involving F-35 components. "We are actively working with U.S. authorities and industry partners to retrieve these components, investigate the incident, and place safeguards to avoid a future occurrence," the office said in a statement.

Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles confirmed that the components had reached Hong Kong, but denied they were sensitive equipment. "My understanding is that there is a sense of comfort, and we're not talking about sensitive equipment here or sensitive parts," Marles told reporters. He said Australia was working with the United States and prime contractor Lockheed Martin on the matter, which he said would ultimately be managed by Washington and the company.

The shipment, which included a cockpit canopy and a weapons-bay door, was bound from Australia to the United States for either repair or disposal months ago when it was diverted to Hong Kong. It was not immediately clear how the diversion occurred.

The incident has drawn congressional scrutiny over concerns that China could gain access to components of the highly classified aircraft. Lockheed did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Requests for comment were also sent to the Chinese embassy and Hong Kong's trade office in Washington.

Beijing has maintained tight control over Hong Kong since the territory's return from British rule in 1997. Hong Kong does not maintain its own military or conduct its own diplomacy.

The F-35 Lightning II, a fifth-generation fighter, first rolled off an assembly line in Texas about two decades ago and was hailed as a technological leap. More than 1,200 of the jets have been built and 19 countries have placed orders, according to the Congressional Research Service. Its technologies include stealth coatings, advanced radar and sensors, and networking capabilities designed to link with allied aircraft and ground forces.

China may already possess at least some older intelligence on the aircraft. A 2013 report by the Defense Science Board, which advises the Pentagon, alleged that Chinese cyberattacks accessed data from dozens of Pentagon programs, including the joint strike fighter. Analysts note that U.S. military systems are continually updated and improved, which can offset the value of secrets obtained years ago.