Cotton presses Hegseth to review supply chains after F-35 parts ended up in China

Cotton presses Hegseth to review supply chains after F-35 parts ended up in China

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, pressed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday to review the military supply chains after sensitive F-35 fighter jet parts were diverted to Hong Kong and are now in China’s possession.

“DOW relies extensively on contractors and commercial carriers to move military equipment, replacement parts, and vital supplies around the world. And while I recognize that such arrangements allow for ease and speed of movement, those advantages must not come at the expense of maintaining our military edge ,” Cotton wrote in a letter .

The Arkansas Republican, who also sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), asked the Pentagon to review the chain-of-custody requirements for military equipment and parts shipped by contractors and commercial carriers, the department’s ability to track the location and routing of these shipments and procedures for allowing and reporting changes to routes.

Cotton also asked the Pentagon to examine “ safeguards to prevent military materiel from transiting through or being diverted to China and other adversary-controlled jurisdictions.”

“Classified and designated sensitive components should receive heightened protections, but all U.S. military material can provide adversaries valuable insight into U.S. weapons systems , logistics and readiness, as well as access to American troops,” Cotton continued.

When reached for comment, the Pentagon said, “as with all congressional correspondence, the Department will respond directly to the authors .”

The letter comes after reports that F-35 Lightning II components were diverted this summer to Hong Kong after being sent from Australia .

The parts, including the canopy and weapons-bay door , were included in the package shipped by UPS.

The development has sparked concerns among both Senate Democrats and Republicans , who have pressed the Pentagon to investigate the matter.

Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), who is also a SASC member, told reporters last week she is “very concerned” about China having possession of F-35 parts.

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