According to CNN, Australian Defense Minister Mars stated on September 22 local time that a batch of F-35 fighter jet parts were 'incorrectly transferred' to Hong Kong, and these parts do not include components involving sensitive technologies.
Last week, the American "Politician" News Network cited sources familiar with the matter, revealing that a batch of F-35 parts, originally planned to be shipped from Australia to the United States for maintenance, had their delivery route changed during the trans-Pacific transportation.
These components were transported by an intermediary on behalf of the F-35 manufacturer Lockheed Martin. They eventually arrived in Hong Kong. It is still unclear why these equipment took a different route, nor who currently possesses them.
Mars said on the 22nd: "We have been informed of this matter and are in communication with the US side as well as Lockheed Martin to discuss how we can assist in this investigation."
He added that, as far as he knows, the lost parts do not include sensitive components. “We are conducting a thorough review of all the situations in Australia. But I want to clarify that we have full confidence in the way the Australian side is involved in this project.”
Mars pointed out, “This is ultimately a matter between the United States and Lockheed Martin, as Lockheed Martin is the main contractor responsible for managing the global supply chain.”
On the same day, the Pentagon confirmed that some parts were lost. A Pentagon spokesman stated that the Joint Project Office for F-35s “was aware of a shipment issue with F-35 ‘Lightning II’ parts that are not functioning properly.”
The spokesman said that efforts are being made together with relevant US departments and industry partners to ‘recoup these components, investigate the incident, and take measures to prevent similar situations from happening in the future’.
Lockheed Martin Corporation stated in a statement that it is unable to discuss the status of this cargo for security reasons, but noted that the company complies with the regulations established by the U.S. Department of Defense and the Defense Logistics Agency.
Statement says: “Our team handles each shipment with the highest level of caution and security, ensuring the integrity of the F-35 program and the safety of our allied partners.”
The company’s spokesperson said on the 24th local time: “All the parts involved are no longer usable, and the risk of reverse cracking is considered low. We handle every shipment with the highest level of caution and security measures.”
The report mentioned that problems with the F-35 parts supply chain are not new. A 2023 report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office indicated that the F-35 Joint Program Office, which oversees projects for the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and overseas customers, “did not maintain complete records of lost and disposed-of parts.”
The report cites data from a contractor, stating that between 2019 and 2023, the contractor “lost more than 1 million parts, with a total value exceeding $85 million. Less than 2% of the lost parts were verified by the F-35 Joint Program Office.”
