Australia investigating how F-35 fighter jet parts bound for US went missing in Hong Kong

Disappearance of jet components sparks concern some of the program’s technology secrets could have been exposed

Richard Marles says the Department of Defence is examining how F-35 fighter jet parts bound for the US from Australia were unexpectedly diverted to Hong Kong.

The acting prime minister said “very much everything that has occurred at the Australian end” will be reviewed, however, he claimed the technology parts were not “sensitive”, as first reported by Politico over the weekend .

The parts, which were being transported by another unknown third party on behalf of manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, still remain unaccounted for months later following their unplanned diversion to Hong Kong .

The last known location of the fighter jet components – in Hong Kong, a special administrative region of China – has sparked concern that some of the program’s technology secrets could have been exposed.

“We are examining [Australia’s involvement], 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,” Marles said on Tuesday.

“My understanding is that there is a sense of comfort, and we’re not talking about sensitive equipment here, or sensitive parts.

“Ultimately, though, this is an issue which is going to be managed by the United States and by Lockheed in terms of what has occurred.”

Politico reported sources said the “sensitive” shipment contained on of the jet’s canopies, which reportedly contains stealth technology.

While many details have not yet been revealed, Michael Shoebridge, a director for Strategic Analysis Australia who has worked in intelligence agencies, said there were two reasons why China, or another adversary, would want F-35 parts – to reverse engineer them, or to learn how to better exploit and attack them.

Shoebridge added the shipment’s pitstop in Hong Kong was “such an unexpectedly stupid thing” for the manufacturer or Australia to do.

“This is an act of incredible ineptitude and stupidity, and so it’s more the Chinese taking advantage of an incredible stroke of luck brought to them by the stupidity of the people involved,” he said.

Last week, the US State Department announced that the Trump administration would continue with the sale of 48 F-35s to Saudi Arabia, despite reported concerns from the US intelligence community that China could obtain some of the stealth technology.

Australia was one of the early development partners in the F-35. The program spreads the development, supply, management and sustainment of the fighter jets across different countries.