A U.S. military supplier producing fighter jet and missile launcher components is under scrutiny after its CEO was found to have longstanding ties to Chinese Communist Party (CCP) intelligence networks. S&L Aerospace Metals LLC, based in New York, has been awarded millions in defense contracts despite its leader, Jerry Wang, appearing at numerous events connected to China’s influence operations.
Wang has been identified as a member of organizations tied to the CCP’s United Front Work Department (UFWD), a network responsible for advancing Beijing’s global influence efforts. Chinese government records show Wang as a “director” and “deputy chairman” in UFWD-affiliated groups. While Wang has denied any political affiliations, he has not disputed his attendance at high-level CCP events.
S&L Aerospace has produced key components for Lockheed Martin’s F-16 and F-35 fighter jets, Boeing’s F-15 Eagle, and guided missile launch systems. The company has received around $60 million in U.S. defense contracts while maintaining a role on a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) council that oversees critical manufacturing security.
National security officials have sounded the alarm on Wang’s presence within the U.S. defense supply chain. “The CCP does not play by the rules, and letting them gain access to our critical industries is a massive risk,” said former military intelligence analyst L.J. Eads. Rep. John Moolenaar (R-MI) also warned that individuals linked to China’s influence networks should never have been allowed to hold positions in U.S. defense manufacturing.
Despite these concerns, the Pentagon has yet to take action regarding S&L Aerospace’s role in national security operations. DHS has also remained silent on how Wang’s connections could impact supply chain vulnerabilities.
With growing bipartisan concerns over foreign influence in U.S. defense contracts, lawmakers are now pushing for stricter oversight to prevent CCP-aligned individuals from gaining access to sensitive military production.
