UK says it knew all along about F-35 Chinese supplier link
Despite past controversy surrounding F-35 supplier links with China, the UK MoD has suggested that risk assessments indicated no cause for concern.
The UK MoD has said it was always aware a F-35 circuit board supplier based in Gloucestershire belonged to Chinese parent company Shenzhen Fast Print.
Exception PCB, which continues to supply circuit boards for the fifth-generation fighter jet programme, passed a risk assessment carried out by the MoD, years before reports emerged of the company being tied to Chinese ownership, according to Jeremy Quin, Minister for Defence Procurement.
He explained during a House of Commons Defence Committee hearing on 14 December that the risk assessment result was subsequently communicated to the Lightning II joint programme, Lockheed Martin and other industry
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Defence Notes
-
![Irish Naval Service expands as the country looks to defence during EU presidency]()
Irish Naval Service expands as the country looks to defence during EU presidency
The Irish Naval Service has struggled to maintain capability, particularly in the face of lucrative private sector offers luring away personnel.
-
![Resilience, adaptiveness and collaboration vital for success in space (Studio)]()
Resilience, adaptiveness and collaboration vital for success in space (Studio)
Speakers at the Defence In Space Conference (DISC) 2025 highlighted the critical and evolving role of space in national security, defence and the global economy.
-
![Why the NORAD inventory might be the US and Canada’s Achilles’ heel]()
Why the NORAD inventory might be the US and Canada’s Achilles’ heel
Both the US and Canada operate Cold War-era capabilities which cannot defeat today’s and tomorrow’s threats.
-
![Companies’ results boom as countries dig deep to buy missiles and air defence systems]()
Companies’ results boom as countries dig deep to buy missiles and air defence systems
Air defence systems are continuing to appear top of countries’ shopping lists but broadly across different capabilities it is a sellers’ market, as demonstrated by backlogs and double-digit percentage point growth.
