Overview
- A commercial intermediary transporting F-35 spare parts for Lockheed Martin rerouted a shipment from Australia to Hong Kong while it was crossing the Pacific and some components are now unaccounted for.
- Two sources told reporters the cargo included an F-35 cockpit canopy, a clear acrylic bubble coated with a thin radar‑absorbent layer that is central to the jet’s low‑observable design.
- The Pentagon’s F-35 Joint Program Office confirmed it is aware of a shipment issue and said it is working with U.S. authorities and industry partners to retrieve parts and investigate what happened.
- State Department and Pentagon officials began briefing congressional national security staff in June and Capitol Hill has opened ongoing inquiries to examine custody, contractor roles, and safeguards.
- The episode highlights long‑standing supply‑chain gaps flagged by a 2023 GAO report showing large unexplained losses of F-35 spares and could prompt tighter oversight, changes to contractor inventory control, and strain on allied maintenance plans.