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 intended to help train Chinese military personnel in airborne warning and control system operations as well as anti-submarine warfare tactics. These devices, designed and manufactured by TFASA using U.S.-origin software and defense technical data, were part of “Project Elgar,” which aimed to expand the Chinese military’s ability to track submarines operating in the Pacific.
“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 of Homeland Security Investigations New York emphasized law enforcement efforts: “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, adding that authorities would pursue all avenues “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.”
According to court documents, TFASA engineers enhanced basic flight simulation software—originally created by a U.S.-based company—using technical data about Western anti-submarine aircraft such as Boeing’s P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol plane.
In June 2023, TFASA was placed on an Entity List by the Department of Commerce along with several subsidiaries due to providing training services using Western sources for Chinese military pilots—a move described as contrary to U.S. security interests.
This interdiction follows recent joint naval exercises between China, Russia, and Iran off South Africa’s coast starting January 10.
The investigation involves agents from both FBI New York Field Office; Homeland Security Investigations New York; as well as staff from the Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven B. Wasserman and Rick Blaylock Jr., together with Trial Attorney Sean Heiden from DOJ’s National Security Division Counterintelligence Section are handling prosecution for this case.