A former United States Air Force officer and fighter pilot has been arrested on charges of illegally providing defence services to Chinese military personnel, in a case that American authorities say raises serious national security concerns.
Gerald Eddie Brown Jr, 65, also known by the call sign “Runner”, was taken into custody on Wednesday in Indiana. Brown is accused of providing and conspiring to provide combat aircraft training to pilots of China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) without obtaining the required authorisation from the US State Department, in violation of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA).
US officials alleged that Brown, a former F-35 Lightning II instructor pilot with decades of military aviation experience, knowingly offered his expertise to Chinese military personnel despite legal restrictions governing the export of defence services.
“The United States Air Force trained Major Brown to be an elite fighter pilot and entrusted him with the defence of our Nation. He now stands charged with training Chinese military pilots,” Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A Eisenberg said.
He specified that when US persons — whether military or civilian — provide training to a foreign military, the activity is illegal unless they have obtained a licence from the State Department.
A senior FBI official added, “Gerald Brown, a former F-35 Lightning II instructor pilot with decades of experience flying US military aircraft, allegedly betrayed his country by training Chinese pilots to fight against those he swore to protect”.
“The Chinese government continues to exploit the expertise of current and former members of the US armed forces to modernise China’s military capabilities. This arrest serves as a warning that the FBI and our partners will stop at nothing to hold accountable anyone who collaborates with our adversaries to harm our service members and jeopardize our national security,” said Assistant Director of the FBI’s Counterintelligence wing.
Officials further alleged that China has increasingly sought to recruit former Western military personnel to enhance its combat readiness and operational capabilities. US authorities have in recent years warned veterans and defence contractors against participating in such activities without proper clearance.
