GOP lawmakers concerned after F-35 equipment ended up in China

GOP lawmakers concerned after F-35 equipment ended up in China

Republican lawmakers are concerned and are demanding more information from the Pentagon after sensitive F-35 parts were inexplicably diverted to Hong Kong and are now in the possession of the Chinese government.

Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), who sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), told reporters Thursday that she is “very concerned” about China having possession of F-35 Lightning II components after they were diverted to Hong Kong this summer after being sent from Australia.

Fischer said she will ask the Pentagon for updates as the investigation unfolds and a briefing once the department has information to share .

Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), another SASC member and China hawk, said he is concerned as well.

“China is not going to be our friend ,” Scott told reporters.

The Pentagon is “aware of a shipment issue of unserviceable ” F-35 parts, according to the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office (JPO).

“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,” JPO said in a statement to The Hill.

The revelation about the missing parts comes as Chinese President Xi Jinping is in Washington, D.C., for a state visit with President Trump.

Politico first reported last week that a shipment from Australia, including one of the fighter plane’s canopies, which goes over the cockpit and has stealth technology, was diverted to Hong Kong, sparking a congressional inquiry .

On Wednesday, Bloomberg reported that China has the package, which includes the canopy and weapons-bay door . The parts were transported by UPS.

Rep. Patt Harrigan (R-N.C.), who sits on the House Armed Services Committee, said if the reporting is accurate, the U.S. will have a “ MASSIVE problem .”

“China spends enormous resources trying to penetrate our most advanced military technology , we cannot make their job easier through failures in our own supply chain,” Harrigan said Thursday on social platform X.

Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), the vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said he is seeking a full briefing from the administration on how the parts ended up in Hong Kong, an administrative region on the southern coast of China.

“It’s extraordinarily concerning ,” Warner told reporters.

The F-35 Lightning II is a fifth-generation fighter jet produced by Lockheed Martin. There are over 1,300 of these fighter jets, which have advanced stealth capabilities, supersonic speed, advanced logistical support and can perform various strike missions.

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