The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a forfeiture complaint involving two mission crew trainers (MCTs) that were intercepted while being shipped from the Test Flying Academy of South Africa (TFASA) to China’s People’s Liberation Army, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
The MCTs are mobile classrooms designed to train Chinese military personnel in the use of airborne warning and control systems and anti-submarine warfare aircraft.
“This seizure demonstrates the ongoing threat that China and its enablers pose to the national security of the United States through the unlawful procurement of U.S. military technology,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “The Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners continue to be steadfast in our commitment to use every lawful tool available to keep this critical technology out of the hands of our adversaries.”
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg stated, “TFASA masquerades as a civilian flight-training academy when in fact it is a significant enabler of the Chinese air and naval forces and a pipeline for transferring NATO aviation expertise, operational knowledge, and restricted technology directly to the People’s Liberation Army. The National Security Division will continue to act decisively to preserve the U.S. military’s qualitative edge by preventing U.S. technology from falling into the hands of our adversaries.”
Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel from Homeland Security Investigations New York highlighted HSI's role: “This successful interdiction highlights the critical role HSI plays in safeguarding U.S. national security and preventing sensitive technology from reaching adversarial military forces. By disrupting the transfer of advanced anti-submarine warfare training equipment to the Chinese military, HSI New York and our partners denied adversaries access to vital U.S. tactics and capabilities and, in turn, protected vital American interests. I commend HSI New York and our law enforcement counterparts for their steadfast commitment to countering illicit procurement networks and defending the integrity of U.S. defense technology worldwide.”
Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky from the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division commented on TFASA's activities: “The Test Flying Academy of South Africa illegally exported U.S. military flight simulator technology and recruited former NATO pilots for the purpose of training China’s military, jeopardizing U.S. national security and placing the lives of American service members at risk,” he said. “The U.S. government will pursue every avenue available to defend the homeland, protect our warfighters, and hold accountable anyone who aids our adversaries.”
FBI Acting Assistant Director in Charge Vanessa Tibbits added: “TFASA’s continued attempts to leverage our nation's military expertise and software gravely threaten United States' national security interests and the lives of American service members around the globe," she said." May today’s disruption reflect the FBI’s unwavering commitment to protect our country from foreign adversaries.”
Court documents indicate that TFASA designed and manufactured both MCTs using software originating in the United States along with defense technical data for Project Elgar—a program intended specifically for training Chinese aviators on anti-submarine warfare techniques aimed at improving their ability to locate submarines operating in Pacific waters.
Both MCTs were modeled after Boeing's P-8 Poseidon aircraft—the primary maritime patrol plane used by U.S forces—and utilized enhanced simulation software based on Western anti-submarine platforms with input from former NATO-trained aviators.
In June 2023, TFASA was added by the Department of Commerce—alongside several subsidiaries—to its Entity List due to providing training services using Western sources for Chinese military pilots; this action was cited as contrary to American national security policy.
The recent interception is part of broader efforts by federal agencies—including FBI, Homeland Security Investigations New York Field Office, Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry & Security—to prevent sensitive technologies from being acquired by foreign militaries.
Legal proceedings are being managed by Assistant U.S Attorneys Steven B Wasserman & Rick Blaylock Jr (District Of Columbia), along with Trial Attorney Sean Heiden (National Security Division).
