Bloomberg says UPS routed F-35 parts through Hong Kong after missed warning
The reported misrouting put stealth aircraft components into Hong Kong, where Chinese authorities took possession of them.
A Bloomberg report says sensitive F-35 parts from Australia ended up in Hong Kong after a UPS employee missed an email from DSV that said the shipment had to follow ITAR routing rules. The parts included a cockpit canopy and weapons-bay door for Royal Australian Air Force F-35s, both described as having radar-absorbing coating. Instead of going through a permitted route such as South Korea or Taiwan, the shipment was sent through Hong Kong to save time after it was delayed. The episode matters because the cargo was military technology tied to stealth aircraft, and the Pentagon has been trying to downplay the loss as unserviceable components. Bloomberg’s sources also said China took possession of the parts, while DSV and UPS did not comment.
Why it matters
The shipment involved Royal Australian Air Force F-35 parts with radar-absorbing material, so the routing error was not just a delay. With the parts ending up in Hong Kong and Chinese authorities taking possession, the episode shows how a missed instruction can push controlled military hardware into the wrong hands and raise the stakes of export handling.
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Sources
- Tom's Hardware