A shipment of F-35 spare parts that should have been routine has become a national security issue. UPS (UPS) unexpectedly routed a cockpit canopy and weapons-bay door through Hong Kong. Both parts are covered in radar-absorbing stealth material, and Chinese authorities took custody of them and have not returned them. The incident has prompted two congressional committee reviews and a classified Senate hearing. Still, key questions remain unanswered over whether the episode exposed F-35 technology or was ultimately a serious but costly logistics mistake.
