The Pentagon is investigating how a shipment of unserviceable F-35 Lightning II components was diverted from Australia to Hong Kong, with at least one part — a cockpit canopy coated in radar-absorbing material — still missing, according to statements from the F-35 Joint Program Office and reporting by Politico, first published Sept. 18, 2026.
The components were being transported by an intermediary company for Lockheed Martin, bound for the U.S. for repair or disposal, when the cargo was sent to Hong Kong instead, according to Politico, which cited anonymous sources. The Pentagon has said it is not clear why the parts were sent to Hong Kong or who currently has them.
In a statement, the F-35 Joint Program Office said officials “are aware of a shipment issue of unserviceable F-35 Lightning II components” and 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.”
Lockheed Martin said in a statement that the company “continues to work closely with the U.S. Government following this incident and we have complied fully with all laws, policies, and export‑control regulations.” The company described the missing components as “unserviceable and deemed low risk for exploitation.”
Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles said on Sept. 22 that Canberra is working with Washington and Lockheed Martin on the issue. “We are examining very much everything that has occurred at the Australian end,” Marles said, according to a government transcript. He said his “understanding” is that “we’re not talking about sensitive parts here,” while referring questions about the nature of the components to the U.S. government and Lockheed.
Politico reported that the shipment included one of the F-35’s canopies, which incorporates radar-absorbent material that helps mitigate the aircraft’s radar signature. The canopy was still missing as of the reporting.
The incident prompted briefings in June for congressional staff on key national security committees, according to Politico. The parts may have originated from the F-35 Aircraft Sustainment Hub at Williamtown in New South Wales, which manages spare parts for the Asia-Pacific region, according to The Aviationist.
Australia operates 72 F-35A aircraft. The F-35 program has 20 global customers, and the State Department recently cleared a $24 billion F-35 sale for Saudi Arabia, according to Breaking Defense.
A 2023 Government Accountability Office report found that over 1 million F-35 parts collectively valued at $85 million were unaccounted for, warning that number could be much higher, Breaking Defense reported.
Sources: Breaking Defense · Defense One