Published 23 Sep, 2026 03:05
F-35 fighters fly over fresh York on July 4, 2026. © Getty Images / Liao Pan/China News Service/VCG
Australia's defence minister Richard Marles confirmed that his country is helping the U.S. to explain the circumstances of the disappearance of parts destined for the stealth F-35 fighter program, which due to a mistake was directed to the incorrect destination.
The incidental occurred earlier that year, erstwhile the transport of unfit components to F-35, sent from Australia to the US, was unexpectedly diverted to Hong Kong.
Parts, carried by an external company on behalf of the maker Lockheed Martin, stay missing despite months.
He was the first to inform Politico last week.
On Tuesday, Marles stated that Canberra was cooperating with the US and Lockheed Martin to analyse its engagement in this incident, while stressing that the missing components were not sensitive.
The minister did not explain in item why these parts were considered insensitive, and erstwhile asked about this by a journalist, he stated that this issue was best addressed to the American side and to Lockheed Martin.
According to the Politico reports, the consignment contained the F-35 compartment cover performed in radar-disturbance technology, although it is unclear which precisely the shield elements afraid the problem.
The F-35 is an American stealth 5th generation fighter, operated by the U.S. and their allies; these machines are now utilized by the air force of 12 states, stationed in bases on their own territory.
The F-35 bureau at the Pentagon (F-35 Joint Program Office) confirmed a speech by the news service "consignment problem” comprising disabled components and reported cooperation with US authorities and industrial partners to recover parts.
The case was besides investigated by the home of Representatives Armed Forces Committee, and representatives of the Pentagon and the State Department were to start reporting it to legislature staff as early as June.
This incidental highlighted possible weaknesses in the extended global supply chain for the F-35 programme.
Spare parts are routinely transported between military bases, regional warehouses and repair facilities, with a large part of this network being supervised by Lockheed Martin on behalf of the Pentagon.
Commercial carriers and another external contractors are besides utilized for global transport.
The missing parts of the F-35 have already occurred in the past.
According to a study by the U.S. Government work Office (GAO) published in May 2023, 1 of the major performers of the F-35 program has since May 2018 reported a failure of over 1 million spare parts worth over $85 million;
This included items lost, damaged or destroyed.
The F-35 Joint Programme Office has analysed little than 2% of these cases.
The GAO besides stated that the military did not have its own comprehensive location monitoring system, the number and cost of parts in the global resource pool managed by the contractor.
Recording problems are part of the wider difficulties faced by the F-35 programme, the Pentagon's largest armaments programme.
For years, this aircraft has been facing increased costs, maintenance and spare parts shortages, modernisation delays, and ongoing problems with the Pentagon's operational readiness indicators.
Translated by Google Translator
Source:https://www.rt.com/news/646099-us-australia-f35-parts-mission/
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