Former US F-35 Pilot Arrested over Unauthorized Chinese Military Training

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Washington: A former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot has been arrested in Jeffersonville, Indiana, on criminal charges related to training members of the Chinese military, the U.S. Justice Department said on Wednesday. The arrest follows allegations that he provided military instruction without required U.S. Government authorization.

The 65-year-old defendant, Gerald Eddie Brown Jr., also known by his call sign “Runner,” is accused of conspiring with foreign nationals to deliver combat aircraft training to pilots in the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). Prosecutors say he did so without obtaining a licence from the U.S. State Department, in violation of the Arms Export Control Act.

Brown had a long career in the U.S. Air Force, serving more than 24 years and holding roles that included instructor positions and command responsibilities. After retiring in 1996, he worked as a defence contractor, training U.S. pilots on aircraft such as the F-35 Lightning II before allegedly taking up the contract in China.

According to the Justice Department, Brown began negotiating terms for the overseas work in August 2023 and travelled to China in December 2023. He remained in the country training PLAAF pilots until early February 2026, when he returned to the United States and was arrested.

 U.S. officials, including the FBI, have condemned the act as a national security threat, saying that transferring advanced combat knowledge to a foreign military could erode America’s defence advantages and jeopardise service members and allies. The department warned others against collaborating with nations considered strategic competitors.

 Brown is set to make his initial court appearance in the Southern District of Indiana. If convicted, he could face significant penalties under federal export control laws. Investigators are also examining whether similar cases involve other former U.S. military personnel.