Former US F-35 Fighter Pilot Arrested For Training Chinese Air Force

WASHINGTON, Feb 26 (Bernama-dpa) -- United States (US) authorities have accused an experienced former fighter pilot of training Chinese military pilots without authorisation, German Press Agency (dpa) reported.

Gerald Brown, 65, who previously trained US pilots to operate the advanced F-35 stealth fighter jet, was arrested in the state of Indiana, according to a Justice Department statement late Wednesday.

Prosecutors allege he violated US arms export control laws, which require State Department approval to provide training to members of foreign armed forces.

The "elite" pilot had decades of experience flying US military aircraft and is accused of having "betrayed his country by training Chinese pilots to fight against those he swore to protect," the Justice Department said.

Training US adversaries represents "a significant threat to national security," it added.

China's Foreign Ministry declined to comment on the case on Thursday. Asked about the matter in Beijing, spokeswoman Mao Ning said she was not aware of the situation.

Brown left the US military in 1996. During his Air Force career, he commanded units responsible for nuclear weapons delivery systems and also trained US military pilots.

As a civilian, he later flew cargo aircraft and trained pilots for US defence contractors.

The suspect is expected to appear before a federal magistrate judge in Indiana on Thursday. 

-- BERNAMA-dpa