UPS missed ITAR warning, F‑35 parts diverted to China, Pentagon launches probe
A UPS employee did not act on an email from freight forwarder DSV warning that a shipment of F‑35 cockpit canopy and weapons‑bay door components, coated with radar‑absorbing material, was subject to US International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). The parts, intended to travel from Australia to San Francisco via South Korea and Taiwan, were rerouted through Hong Kong after falling behind schedule, where Chinese authorities took possession of them.
The Pentagon and US State Department are investigating the incident, and staff of the House Foreign Affairs and Armed Services committees were briefed on September 29, 2026. Pentagon officials described the components as unserviceable, and the F‑35 Joint Program Office is cooperating with US authorities and industry partners to recover the parts and prevent a recurrence.
Why it matters
Lawmakers are calling for an examination of the global logistics network that supports US military equipment, highlighting potential risks for airlines and freight forwarders handling defense cargo.