F-35 Parts Diverted to Hong Kong Prompt Senator Cotton to Demand Pentagon Supply Chain Review

Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, has called on the Department of War (Pentagon) to conduct a comprehensive review of military supply chain security following reports that F-35 Lightning II components shipped from Australia to the United States were diverted to Hong Kong, where Chinese authorities reportedly took possession. In a September 29, 2026, letter to Secretary Pete Hegseth, Cotton highlighted vulnerabilities in commercial and contractor-managed logistics, urging examination of chain-of-custody protocols, shipment tracking, route approvals, foreign jurisdiction transits, and safeguards against adversary access.

The incident, first detailed by Politico on September 18, involved unserviceable F-35 parts—including a cockpit canopy and weapons-bay door coated in radar-absorbing material—transported via commercial carrier (UPS cited in reports) on behalf of Lockheed Martin. The shipment, bound for repairs or disposal, was rerouted over the Pacific, stopping in South Korea before reaching Hong Kong in late May 2026. The F-35 Joint Program Office confirmed awareness of the "shipment issue" and stated it is working with authorities and partners to retrieve the components and implement safeguards. Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles noted the matter is being handled by the U.S. and Lockheed, adding that the parts were not considered sensitive.

Bloomberg and other outlets reported that China has not returned the parts. This echoes prior concerns from a 2023 GAO audit, which found over 1 million F-35 spare parts valued at more than $85 million recorded as lost by a prime contractor, with limited Pentagon oversight. The event has triggered congressional briefings and investigations by committees including House Armed Services and Senate panels.

Cotton emphasized that even non-classified materiel can reveal insights into U.S. weapons systems, logistics, and readiness, stressing the need to balance commercial efficiency with national security in the F-35's global supply chain, which spans thousands of suppliers across multiple countries.