The Gerald Brown arrest for training Chinese military personnel was announced by the US Department of Justice, which accused the former Air Force fighter pilot of providing combat aircraft training without authorisation.
Gerald Brown, 65, was arrested in Indiana after recently returning from China, where he had reportedly been since December 2023. According to the Justice Department, Brown allegedly conspired with foreign nationals to train pilots in the Chinese Air Force without securing the required license from the US State Department.
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the development on social media, calling it a major case involving a former US Air Force pilot accused of training Chinese military personnel.
Gerald Brown Arrest for Training Chinese Military Pilots
Officials say Brown had a 24-year career in the US Air Force. During his service, he reportedly commanded sensitive units responsible for nuclear weapons delivery systems, led combat missions, and worked as a fighter pilot and simulator instructor.
After retiring in 1996, Brown worked as a cargo pilot. He later became a US defence contractor, training pilots to operate A-10 aircraft and F-35 fighter jets.
According to the Justice Department, Brown allegedly began negotiating a contract in August 2023 with Stephen Su Bin, a Chinese national previously imprisoned in the United States over an espionage scheme. Authorities say Brown travelled to China in December 2023 to begin training Chinese pilots.
The FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division warned that foreign governments continue to seek expertise from current and former US military personnel.
Roman Rozhavsky, an FBI official, said the arrest underscores efforts to protect US service members and national security. He emphasised that authorities will pursue individuals accused of collaborating with foreign adversaries.
