Australia confirms investigation into missing F-35 aircraft parts feared lost in Hong Kong

Australia is helping the United States investigate how local parts for the stealth F-35 fighter aircraft were mistakenly diverted to Hong Kong, as the Defence Minister insists the technology lost in the Chinese-held territory is not “sensitive”.

News organisation Politico reported over the weekend that a shipment of F-35 components, including a canopy with radar-resistant features, was rerouted in the Pacific Ocean after leaving Australia bound for the United States for repairs.

The Pentagon said it was “aware of a shipment issue of unserviceable F-35 Lightning II components” and that it was working “to retrieve these components, investigate the incident, and place safeguards to avoid a future occurrence”.

Defence industry figures have told The Nightly the intermediary company involved in shipping the parts on behalf of F-35 manufacturer Lockheed Martin was French-owned CEVA Logistics, but the global freight firm did not respond to numerous requests for comment.

During a visit to RAAF Base Edinburgh on Tuesday, Defence Minister Richard Marles also confirmed Australia was helping US authorities and Lockheed Martin to investigate the matter as concerns grow that China may now have access to technological secrets.

“We are examining very much everything that has occurred at the Australian end, but the point I would make here is that we are confident about the way in which we’ve engaged with the program, and through the US’s prime contractor, Lockheed,” Mr Marles said.

“My understanding is that there is a sense of comfort, and we’re not talking about sensitive equipment here or sensitive parts. Ultimately, though, this is an issue which is going to be managed by the United States and by Lockheed in terms of what has occurred.”

The F-35’s canopy is considered a critical component of the aircraft’s stealth capabilities and is covered in a sensitive radar-absorbent material that degrades over time and requires subsequent repair or replacement.

According to Politico, US authorities became aware of the missing components in June, triggering “an ongoing series of briefings” for congressional staff on key national security committees, but Mr Marles would not reveal when Australia was first alerted.

“We’ve been made aware of this, and we’re obviously working with the United States and Lockheed in terms of how we can assist in this investigation,” he told reporters in Adelaide.

“This is ultimately a matter for the US and Lockheed, as its prime contractor and the contractor that is responsible for managing the global supply chain.”

In a statement Lockheed Martin told Politico it couldn’t discuss the status of shipments for security reasons but insisted it follows all US regulations for shipping aircraft components.

“Our teams handle every shipment with the utmost diligence and safeguards to ensure the integrity of the F-35 program and the security of our allied partners,” the US owned defence giant said.

Australia boasts a fleet of 72 stealth F-35 aircraft and is one of seven other countries which shares a pool of spare parts stored around the globe for the highly classified technology.

The RAAF’s F-35 fleet is maintained and upgraded at the Williamtown sustainment hub just north of Newcastle, but it is unclear whether the missing parts were dispatched from the New South Wales facility.

CEVA Logistics, which operates storage facilities at RAAF Base Williamtown, boasts that it has “enjoyed a successful, global relationship” with Lockheed Martin for over twenty years.

In a statement, an Australian Defence Department spokesperson said: “The Australian Government takes the protection of classified and export-controlled technologies extremely seriously”.

“Australia maintains a robust export control regime administered by Defence in accordance with Australia’s export control legislative framework.”