Aussie defense chief confirms missing F-35 parts, says none are ‘sensitive’

WASHINGTON — Australia’s defense minister said today that he did not believe any parts of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft reportedly diverted to Hong Kong were “sensitive,” but said Canberra was working with Washington and F-35-maker Lockheed Martin on the issue.

“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,” Richard Marles said, according to a government transcript. 

While ultimately referring questions about the nature of the missing components to the US government and Lockheed, Marles said his “understanding” is “we’re not talking about sensitive parts here.”

POLITICO first reported Sept. 18 that a collection of F-35 parts handled by a Lockheed “intermediary” bound for the US for repairs was apparently diverted after leaving Australia, winding up in Hong Kong. The shipment included one of the F-35’s canopies — coated in radar-absorbing material key to masking the stealth fighter’s signature — which, the outlet said, was still missing.

Both the Pentagon’s F-35 Joint Program Office and Lockheed released relatively sanguine statements, echoing Marles.

A spokesperson for the F-35 Joint Program Office said Pentagon officials “are aware of a shipment issue of unserviceable F-35 Lightning II 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.”

A Lockheed spokesperson said the company “continues to work closely with the U.S. Government following this incident and we have complied fully with all laws, policies, and export‑control regulations.” 

The spokesperson added that the missing components “are unserviceable and deemed low risk for exploitation. We manage every shipment with the highest levels of caution and security to protect the integrity of the program and the interests of our partners and customers.”

Still, the waylaid shipment making its way to Hong Kong is sure to raise fears that the Chinese government, which has strengthened its grip on the special administrative region, may gain access to the F-35’s stealth technology. Compromising the fighter’s stealth capabilities could help an adversary better understand how to counter it in battle, or enable Beijing to incorporate lessons for its own advanced aircraft projects. (For more than a decade China has faced allegations that it has stolen F-35 plans to better help it build its own fighter jets. Beijing has dismissed the claims.)

With 20 global customers — and another potentially on the way after the State Department cleared a sale for Saudi Arabia — the F-35 relies on a complex global supply chain. The F-35’s global spares pool is owned by the government but managed by Lockheed, and components are spread out over dozens of domestic and international facilities. 

A 2023 Government Accountability Office report found that over 1 million F-35 parts collectively valued at $85 million were unaccounted for, warning that number could be much higher. A dearth of parts has been a key driver behind the F-35’s disappointing readiness rates, prompting officials in recent years to pursue a greater number of spares.