In what would constitute another case of Western personnel providing defense services to China without authorization, the U.S. Department of Justice has announced the arrest of former F-35 pilot Gerald Eddie Brown Jr., who previously served in the U.S. Air Force and is now accused of training aviators from his counterpart in the Asian giant. According to the official statement released yesterday, the defendant allegedly violated the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) and is awaiting an initial hearing scheduled for today, February 26, in the state of Indiana.
Referring to the case, Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg stated: “The U.S. Air Force trained Major Brown as an elite fighter pilot and entrusted him with the defense of our nation. Now he stands accused of training Chinese military pilots. When U.S. citizens, whether former service members or civilians, provide training to foreign militaries, that activity is illegal unless they have a license from the Department of State. The National Security Division will use every tool at its disposal to protect our military advantages and hold accountable those who violate the AECA.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), specifically through its Counterintelligence and Counterespionage Division, also warned of China’s repeated efforts to recruit members of the U.S. Armed Forces into its modernization and training programs. Targeting both active-duty personnel and retirees, Beijing reportedly leverages substantial financial resources to facilitate such activities—moves that, from its perspective, contribute to increasing its level of readiness vis-à-vis its principal current geopolitical rival.
Examining the case of retired Major Gerald Eddie Brown Jr.
In Brown’s specific case, the FBI indicated that he had allegedly been providing such services to China since August 2023, establishing contacts with both Chinese and U.S. citizens to facilitate the training of foreign pilots—without holding the required license issued by the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) under the U.S. Department of State. He is described as having extensive knowledge not only of the F-35 stealth fighter but also of other U.S. aircraft, including units associated with the U.S. nuclear deterrence network, further heightening Washington’s concerns.
Further details indicate that Major Brown allegedly collaborated with a Chinese national named Stephen Su Bin, who in 2016 was prosecuted in U.S. courts for attempting to hack into the computer networks of defense contractors and access sensitive military data. He was sentenced to four years in prison, and his company, PRC Lode Technology Company, was added to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Entity List.
In message exchanges between the two, Brown reportedly sent a résumé in which he listed his primary “goal” as becoming a “Fighter Pilot Instructor.” His counterpart allegedly informed him that he would be assigned to a base or “wherever the local equivalent of the (U.S. Air Force) Weapons School is.” Shortly thereafter, in December 2023, Brown traveled to China and began meeting with officials to demonstrate his qualifications as an instructor and his knowledge of the USAF. He remained there until earlier this month, when he returned to the United States and was subsequently arrested.
At present, the defendant is under investigation by four FBI field offices (New York, Louisville, Indianapolis, and Los Angeles), while the Air Force Office of Special Investigations has also contributed relevant information. The case is being prosecuted by Beau Barnes along with Acting Deputy Chief Sean Heiden of the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section of the National Security Division, in addition to Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven B. Wasserman (District of Columbia).
Other similar precedents in the West
It is important to note that this is far from the first recorded case of Western pilots providing such services to China, a pattern that has prompted various investigations and warnings. One illustrative example is the joint bulletin issued in June 2024 by the governments of the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, and New Zealand, which stated: “The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China continues to target current and former military personnel from NATO nations and other Western countries to help enhance the PLA’s capabilities.”
Within the United States, it is worth recalling the case of former pilot Daniel Edmund Duggan, who previously served in the U.S. Marine Corps and in 2017 faced similar charges to those now brought against Major Brown. Duggan was investigated for providing training in China related to carrier takeoff and landing operations—an essential capability for expanding Beijing’s power projection. Since 2022, Duggan has been detained in Australia at the request of the FBI and is awaiting extradition to the United States.
A comparable case also emerged in Germany in 2023, when outlets ZDF Heute and Der Spiegel reported that a group of German pilots had been part of a contingent of Western personnel providing training to Chinese aviators. At least two Eurofighter pilots and one Tornado pilot were reportedly involved, all possessing knowledge of both the platforms and NATO operational tactics and procedures—issues that became central concerns for Berlin during its investigation.
In the United Kingdom, additional examples have surfaced, with reports indicating that up to 30 former British pilots were in China contributing to the training of local aviators, most of them fighter pilots. Media outlets such as Sky News reported that individuals performing this work received salaries of around £240,000 per year, while the BBC noted that intelligence alerts had been issued warning former pilots about the illegality of engaging in such activities.
Images used for illustrative purposes.
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