A major supplier of parts for American military aircraft is facing questions after its CEO was found to have longstanding ties to Chinese Communist Party (CCP) organizations. S&L Aerospace Metals LLC, a defense contractor that produces components for fighter jets and missile launchers, is led by Jerry Wang, who has been linked to CCP intelligence networks.
Chinese state media and government records list Wang as a director and senior official within multiple organizations associated with the CCP’s United Front Work Department (UFWD). The UFWD is known for its influence operations abroad, and its ties to Wang have raised alarms about potential risks to U.S. defense security.
Wang has appeared at high-profile CCP events over the years, including gatherings alongside Chinese leader Xi Jinping. In one 2006 event, Wang was photographed giving Xi a bald eagle statue, while a later 2019 event in Beijing showed Wang sitting with officials from Chinese intelligence-linked agencies. While his legal team denies political affiliations, they have not refuted his presence at these functions.
Despite these links, S&L Aerospace has been awarded around $60 million in defense contracts, supplying key components for the Pentagon. The company produces parts for Lockheed Martin’s F-35 and F-16 jets, as well as Boeing’s F-15 Eagle and military helicopters.
Rep. John Moolenaar (R-MI), chair of the House Select Committee on the CCP, warned that individuals with CCP connections should not be in control of sensitive defense supply chains. National security experts have echoed these concerns, with former intelligence analyst L.J. Eads calling the situation a “glaring national security failure.”
Adding to concerns, S&L Aerospace serves on a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) advisory council for critical manufacturing. While the company insists it is free from foreign influence, it has yet to provide an explanation for Wang’s documented ties to the CCP.
