Former F-35 Fighter Pilot Arrested in the US, Allegedly Trained Chinese Military
The United States has arrested a former elite F-35 Lightning II fighter pilot on suspicion of providing military training to the Chinese Air Force without official US government authorisation. The arrest was announced by the US Department of Justice (DOJ).
On Wednesday (25/2/2026), the DOJ stated that former US Air Force Major Gerald Brown (65) was arrested on Wednesday in the state of Indiana. Brown is accused of providing and conspiring to provide defense services to Chinese military pilots illegally.
“This former elite fighter pilot is alleged to have betrayed his country by training Chinese pilots to fight against the very people he once swore to protect,” said Roman Rozhavsky, Assistant Director of the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division, in an official statement, as quoted by Al Jazeera.
Rozhavsky added that the Chinese government is actively exploiting the expertise of US military personnel, both active and retired, to accelerate the modernisation of its military capabilities.
“This arrest serves as a stark warning,” he said.
The US Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Ferris Pirro, also affirmed that they will take strict action against anyone involved. “Brown and anyone who conspires against this country will be held accountable,” she said.
According to the DOJ, Brown served in the US Air Force for 24 years. He has led combat missions and was responsible for sensitive units, including those related to nuclear weapons delivery systems.
After retiring in 1996, Brown worked as a commercial cargo pilot before becoming a defense contractor training US pilots to operate F-35 and A-10 fighter jets.
Brown allegedly began training Chinese pilots after travelling to the country in December 2023. He is said to have stayed in China until returning to the US in early February 2026.
The DOJ revealed that the training contract was negotiated by Stephen Su Bin, a Chinese citizen who was sentenced to four years in prison in 2016 for conspiring to hack US defense contractors to steal military secrets.
The case is said to be similar to the case of former US Marine Corps pilot Daniel Duggan, who was arrested in Australia in 2022 and is now fighting extradition to the US. Duggan is accused of violating the US Arms Export Control Act for providing pilot training to the Chinese military.
According to a Reuters report, Duggan’s lawyer called the extradition attempt an unprecedented case in Australian legal practice.
In 2024, the US government, along with Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, issued a joint warning regarding China’s efforts to recruit Western military personnel.
“The insights gained by the People’s Liberation Army from Western military talent threaten the safety of the individuals targeted, their fellow service members, and the security of the US and its allies,” the statement said.
The US government has affirmed that any individual who provides military training or expertise to a foreign country without authorisation may face civil or criminal penalties.