US stops South African school from transferring NATO military technology to China

The Justice Department filed a forfeiture complaint against two Mission Crew Trainers (MCTs) that were intercepted in transit.

According to the U.S. agency, the equipment was being shipped from South Africa’s Test Flying Academy (TFASA) to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

U.S. authorities allege that the South Africa-based academy acted as a conduit for transferring NATO-standard aviation expertise, operational knowledge, and restricted technology to China’s air and naval forces.

The equipment, used to train personnel on airborne warning and control systems (AWACS) and anti-submarine warfare aircraft, is considered a strategically sensitive military asset.

“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,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg.

This action is part of a broader U.S. effort to curb the illicit transfer of military technology involving African entities.

In 2024, the Commerce Department sanctioned multiple South African firms, including TFASA affiliates, for allegedly training Chinese aircrew using Western and NATO knowledge.

The sanctions targeted entities accused of recruiting former Western pilots to train the PLA, signaling that Washington is closely monitoring Africa’s role in global defense technology flows.

Moreover, the U.S. has previously pursued prosecutions related to the illegal export of military equipment to Africa, including firearms and strategic components destined for Nigeria and Cameroon, demonstrating a longstanding commitment to enforcing export controls on the continent.

These precedents highlight the intersection of African-based entities, global military training, and national security concerns.

The U.S. government has framed the TFASA seizure as an urgent national security issue. “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 Jeanine Pirro for the District of Columbia.

“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,” added Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division.

Founded in 2003 with South African government support, TFASA maintained it operated under strict compliance and a Code of Conduct designed to prevent the sharing of classified or sensitive information.

Nonetheless, the Justice Department argues that the academy exported U.S. military flight simulator technology and recruited former NATO pilots for the PLA.

For Washington, these actions reflect a willingness to enforce national security measures far beyond U.S. borders, particularly when strategic technologies and military expertise are involved.

The case also underscores Africa’s growing role as a focal point in the broader competition between the U.S. and China for influence in defense and strategic training networks.

“The U.S. government will pursue every avenue available to defend the homeland, protect our warfighters, and hold accountable anyone who aids our adversaries.” Roman Rozhavsky said.