Washington, Feb 26 (NationPress) A former officer of the US Air Force, who was once a pilot of some of the country's most advanced fighter aircraft, has been apprehended for allegedly providing unauthorized training to pilots of the Chinese military, as reported by the Justice Department.

Gerald Eddie Brown Jr., aged 65, recognized by his call sign “Runner,” was taken into custody in Jeffersonville, Indiana. He faces criminal charges for allegedly offering and conspiring to offer defense services to Chinese military aviators, violating the Arms Export Control Act. His initial court appearance is scheduled for Thursday in the Southern District of Indiana.

“The US Air Force trained Major Brown to be a top-tier fighter pilot, entrusting him with the defense of our nation. He is now charged with training Chinese military pilots,” remarked John A. Eisenberg, Assistant Attorney General for National Security.

“Any US individual, military or civilian, providing training to foreign military forces is engaging in illegal activity unless authorized by a license from the State Department. The National Security Division will utilize all available resources to safeguard our military advantages and prosecute those who breach the AECA,” he further stated.

According to Roman Rozhavsky, Assistant Director of the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division, Brown, a former instructor for the F-35 Lightning II, “allegedly betrayed his country by training Chinese pilots to combat those he pledged to protect.”

“The Chinese government persistently seeks to leverage the knowledge of current and former members of the US military to enhance its military capabilities,” he added.

This arrest is a stark reminder that the FBI and its partners will relentlessly pursue accountability for anyone collaborating with adversaries against our service members and endangering our national security.

The complaint indicates that Brown conspired since August 2023 to provide combat training to pilots in the Chinese Air Force. This training is categorized as a defense service under International Traffic in Arms Regulations. Allegedly, Brown lacked the necessary license from the State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls.

Brown dedicated over 24 years to the Air Force, retiring in 1996 with the rank of Major. Throughout his service, he led sensitive units responsible for nuclear weapons delivery systems and piloted aircraft such as the F-4 “Phantom II,” F-15 “Eagle,” F-16 “Fighting Falcon,” and A-10 “Thunderbolt II.”

Following his military career, he transitioned to work as a commercial cargo pilot and a contract simulator instructor, training US military pilots on the A-10 and F-35.

Prosecutors have stated that Brown initiated arrangements in August 2023 to train Chinese military pilots, allegedly employing a co-conspirator to negotiate with Stephen Su Bin, a Chinese national previously convicted in the United States in 2016 for conspiring to hack major US defense contractors and acquire sensitive military data for the People’s Republic of China.

In December 2023, Brown traveled to China to commence pilot training, remaining there until early February 2026, when he returned to the US.

These charges follow similar accusations against former US Marine Corps pilot Daniel Edmund Duggan, who was charged in 2017 for providing unauthorized defense services to Chinese military pilots. Duggan was arrested in Australia in 2022 and is currently awaiting extradition.