Arrest in the USA: Former Fighter Pilot Accused of Collaborating with the Chinese Military

In Jeffersonville, Indiana, Gerald Eddie Brown Jr., a retired major of the US Air Force, was arrested. Brown served for years as an instructor and commander, with access to the deepest tactical secrets concerning the fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter jets. Investigators from the Department of Justice determined that the accused spent over two years in China, where he directly trained local military pilots. These activities were systematic and conducted without the mandatory license from the State Department, constituting a blatant violation of national security regulations. The charges are based on the violation of the AECA, which strictly prohibits the transfer of military knowledge to embargoed states. Prosecutors emphasize that Brown not only provided the Chinese military with valuable combat techniques but also actively conspired to conceal his activities from US counterintelligence. The FBI monitored his return to the country, enabling a swift arrest shortly after his arrival in Indiana. Justice Department officials assess that the accused "betrayed his country" by preparing a potential adversary for conflict with the forces he himself helped build. The practice of recruiting retired NATO pilots by China has become a critical challenge for Western intelligence services in recent years. In 2024, British and American services issued a joint warning about intermediary companies from South Africa that offer pilots astronomical salaries in exchange for tactical knowledge. The indictment sheds new light on Beijing's methods of acquiring information, which, instead of traditional espionage, focuses on the transfer of soft, specialized expertise. Brown possessed tactical know-how concerning nuclear weapons delivery systems and the weak points of Western combat aircraft. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has traditionally declined to comment on the matter, claiming no knowledge of the incident. Meanwhile, the accused awaits a court hearing in custody, which will decide his fate and potential indictment before a jury. „The defendant allegedly traded on his specialized military training by instructing pilots for the government of the People’s Republic of China, directly endangering our national security.” (The defendant allegedly traded on his specialized military training by instructing pilots for the government of the People’s Republic of China, directly endangering our national security.) — Matthew G. Olsen