China allegedly intercepted UPS-shipped F-35 parts after employee missed email warning — worker decided to divert through Hong Kong to speed up delivery

Choose how you want to join Tom’s Hardware MEMBER Get started with free access to reviews, badges and discussions.

Unlock exclusive tools and insights for enthusiasts who want more.

Access Bench, Roadmaps, deep analysis and other exclusive tools.

Bench Performance Database Dive into our proprietary testing data and compare hardware with detailed benchmarks.

Go beyond the headlines with expert reporting on the hardware industry.

Track upcoming CPUs, GPUs and tech releases before they arrive.

In-depth features, interviews and insider stories from the world of hardware.

Expert insights and analysis delivered to your inbox.

Bench Performance Database Dive into our proprietary testing data and compare hardware with detailed benchmarks.

Go beyond the headlines with expert reporting on the hardware industry.

Track upcoming CPUs, GPUs and tech releases before they arrive.

In-depth features, interviews and insider stories from the world of hardware.

Expert insights and analysis delivered to your inbox.

Welcome to Tom’s Hardware club! Hi , Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

Reviews, benchmarks, and updates on current GPUs.

See what you’ve unlocked. Explore your membership benefits.

Premium Member Hi , Keep exploring with your premium access.

Get club Access Quick Join for quick access. Enter your email below and we’ll send confirmation plus sign you up to our newsletter.

Stay On the Cutting Edge: Get the Tom’s Hardware Newsletter Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox.

Unlock instant access to exclusive member features.

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.

The F-35 parts were said to be sensitive military technology, not just because they were serviceable parts of one of the world’s most advanced fighter jets. These Royal Australian Air Force F-35 stealth fighter cockpit canopy and weapons-bay door were also “coated with radar-absorbing material that enhances their stealth capabilities,” noted the original report. In other words, the stealth coating’s secret recipe may have been more sensitive than the actual airplane parts.

The parts were being sent from Australia to San Francisco for inspection. According to U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations, also known as ITAR, certain countries and territories must be avoided when shipping such equipment. Hong Kong, as a special administrative region of China, is on the blacklist.

An email making clear that the cockpit canopy and weapons-bay door should be shipped according to ITAR rules was sent from heavy cross-border freight specialist DSV to global parcel distribution specialist UPS. Sadly, with the shipment leaving Australia late and the UPS agent reportedly not getting sight of the DSV email, reports Bloomberg, mistakes were made. Instead of routing from Australia via South Korea and/or Taiwan, the UPS agent pushed it through HK for speed. All this because “The DSV email may have been sent through a different IT system than the one used by the UPS agent,” according to Bloomberg’s unnamed sources.

Now these advanced allied warplane parts are in China’s hands, and there have been no subsequent reports indicating it admits to having them or intends to release them.

A series of unfortunate shipping events (updated)

The details of the missing shipment were embarrassing for the Pentagon and Lockheed Martin. Bloomberg’s new information shifts the blame somewhat to a shipping firm’s miscommunication. Even though it has now been explained, the error seems pretty amateurish, though. Bloomberg contacted DSV and UPS spokespersons, but neither provided comments.

Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox.

Though the Pentagon has sought to downplay the missing parts incident and characterize them as “unserviceable F-35 components,” others don’t shrug off the loss so lightly. Bloomberg quoted a representative from the non-partisan Government Accountability Office who thought the loss was “a big deal” that would see Chinese reverse engineering teams celebrating.

Follow Tom’s Hardware on Google News, or add us as a preferred source, to get our latest news, analysis, & reviews in your feeds.

Mark Tyson News Editor Mark Tyson is a news editor at Tom’s Hardware. He enjoys covering the full breadth of PC tech; from business and semiconductor design to products approaching the edge of reason.