Ex-F-35 instructor accused of training Chinese military pilots

A retired pilot from the US Air Force has been arrested on allegations that he illegally trained Chinese military aviators, the US Department of Justice announced on February 25.

The suspect, Gerald Eddie Brown Jr., 65, was detained in Jeffersonville, Indiana, under a criminal complaint accusing him of providing — and conspiring to provide — defence services to pilots of the Chinese Air Force without the authorisation required under US law. Prosecutors say Brown, a former F-35 pilot and instructor who previously led combat missions, lacked the mandatory license from the State Department to conduct such training.

According to investigators, Brown began working with foreign nationals no later than August 2023 to arrange combat-aircraft instruction for Chinese pilots. The complaint alleges that he used an intermediary to negotiate with Stephen Su Din, a Chinese national who pleaded guilty in 2016 to conspiring to hack computer networks of US defence contractors to obtain sensitive military and export-controlled data for the People’s Republic of China.

Authorities say Brown travelled to China in December 2023, where he allegedly began training activities. Shortly after arriving, he reportedly spent three hours answering detailed questions about the US Air Force. He remained in China until returning to the United States in February 2026, when he was taken into custody.

Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Eisenberg emphasised that US citizens — military or civilian — must obtain government approval before providing training to a foreign military, calling such activity illegal without proper licensing.

US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Ferris Pirro said Brown had violated the oath he took as an Air Force officer and warned that authorities would pursue anyone accused of transferring sensitive American military expertise abroad.

Federal investigators also linked the case to broader concerns about Beijing’s efforts to recruit former Western military personnel. In a statement posted online, Roman Rozhavsky of the Federal Bureau of Investigation said the Chinese government continues attempting to exploit the knowledge of current and former US service members to advance its military capabilities.

Brown is scheduled to appear before a federal magistrate judge in the Southern District of Indiana on Thursday, February 26.

By Tamilla Hasanova