Both parts were covered with radar-absorbent material used to enhance the aircraft's stealth capabilities.
The Chinese government obtained secret parts of the American F-35 stealth fighter, which for unknown reasons ended up in Hong Kong during shipment from Australia to the United States. Sources familiar with the incident told Bloomberg about this.
According to the agency, in late May, UPS was transporting an F-35 cockpit canopy and a weapons bay door. Both parts, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, were covered with radar-absorbent material used to enhance the aircraft's stealth capabilities.
En route to the U.S., the aircraft carrying the parts landed in South Korea, after which it was diverted to Hong Kong. The reason for this landing and diversion is unknown. It is also unclear whether this was done intentionally or by mistake. However, after this, as two sources stated, the Chinese authorities obtained the parts and have not yet returned them.
Currently, at least two U.S. Congressional committees are investigating the incident.
The Pentagon stated that it is working on returning the parts. A Lockheed Martin representative in Australia reported that the parts were faulty and "considered low-risk from an operational use perspective." Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said that Canberra is investigating all circumstances of the incident.
The U.S. and its allies consider China's potential access to F-35 technology a sensitive issue.
Michigan Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin told Bloomberg that China constantly attempts to obtain information about American military technology. Former Congressional Research Service analyst Jay Jay Gertler noted that the U.S. should not give potential adversaries the opportunity to study its weaponry, writes Moscow Times.
The F-35 is one of the main modern American fighters. Approximately 20 countries have purchased aircraft of this type, including Australia, South Korea, Japan, and Singapore.
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