Former US F-35 fighter pilot arrested for training Chinese air force | Military News
Former Air Force Officer Charged with Training Chinese Military Pilots
The U.S. Justice Department has announced the arrest of Gerald Brown, a former Air Force major, for allegedly providing unauthorized training to Chinese military pilots. Brown, known by his pilot call sign “Runner,” was apprehended on Wednesday in Indiana. He faces a criminal complaint for conspiring to supply defense services to the Chinese military.
Brown, 65, has a storied career in the Air Force, having served for 24 years as an F-35 Lightning II instructor pilot. Roman Rozhavsky, assistant director at the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division, stated that Brown “allegedly betrayed his country by training Chinese pilots to fight against those he swore to protect.” He emphasized that the Chinese government seeks to leverage the experience of current and former U.S. military personnel to enhance its military capabilities.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia affirmed that Brown and any individuals conspiring against national interests would be held accountable.
According to the Justice Department, Brown commanded sensitive units during his tenure, including those involved in nuclear weapons systems. Following his military exit in 1996, he worked as a commercial cargo pilot and later as a defense contractor, training U.S. pilots on F-35 and A-10 aircraft.
The indictment alleges that Brown traveled to China in December 2023 to commence training Chinese pilots, remaining there until early February 2024. His contract was reportedly negotiated by Stephen Su Bin, a Chinese national previously convicted for conspiring to hack a U.S. defense contractor to acquire military secrets.
Brown faces similar charges to those against former Marine Corps pilot Daniel Duggan, who was arrested in Australia in 2022 for providing training to the Chinese armed forces. Duggan’s extradition to the U.S. is currently under legal review in Australia.
In light of such incidents, governments from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the U.S. issued warnings in 2024 regarding potential recruitment efforts by China targeting current and former military personnel. The notice indicated that unauthorized training or advising of foreign military forces can result in civil and criminal penalties.
This case highlights ongoing concerns regarding national security and the unauthorized transfer of military expertise to foreign powers.
