Spy fears as Chinese-owned company builds circuit boards for top-secret F-35 warplane flown by Britain's forces F-35 stealth warplanes will play a central role in Britain’s air and naval forces Defence experts have raised concerns over the security of the new warplane The circuit boards will control the engines, lighting, fuel and navigation systemsBy Jemma Buckley For The Daily Mail Published: 01:32 BST, 15 June 2019 | Updated: 01:40 BST, 15 June 2019 Viewcomments Circuit boards for top-secret F-35 warplanes flown by Britain are being made by a Chinese-owned company, it has emerged. Defence experts have raised concerns over the security of the new warplane programme because of fears about Chinese spying. Documents published by the Ministry of Defence say the component in question is vital to ‘control many of the F-35’s core capabilities’. Pictured: The first Dutch F-35, (Joint Strike Fighter) in action during the Air Force Days 2019 at airbase Volkel, the Netherlands, 14 June 2019 These include its ‘engines, lighting, fuel and navigation systems’. F-35 stealth warplanes will play a central role in Britain’s air and naval forces in the coming decades. The part is made in Gloucestershire by manufacturer Exception PCB, which was bought out in 2013 by Chinese firm Shenzhen Fastprint. There is no suggestion either company have done anything wrong. Tory MP Bob Seely, who has written a paper about concerns with China’s Huawei and Britain’s 5G mobile network, told Sky News: ‘I think it’s breathtaking. It’s not a question of: Is this bad? But it’s a question of: How bad is it?’ He plans to raise the matter with Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt. Pictured: The first Dutch F-35, (Joint Strike Fighter) in action during the Air Force Days 2019 at airbase Volkel, the Netherlands, 14 June 2019 Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility