A former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot has been arrested for allegedly training Chinese military personnel without authorization. Gerald Brown, 65, was taken into custody in Indiana after returning from China.
Brown is accused of conspiring to provide combat aircraft training to pilots in the Chinese Air Force. This allegedly occurred without a required license from the U.S. State Department.
Brown served 24 years in the U.S. Air Force, holding positions with sensitive units and participating in combat missions. After retiring in 1996, he reportedly worked for defense contractors before beginning training negotiations with a Chinese national in August 2023.
Officials stated the arrest highlights concerns about China exploiting U.S. military expertise to modernize its own forces. The FBI emphasized its commitment to holding accountable anyone compromising national security.