“Made in China” counterfeit war plane parts put our troops in danger- why?

Coach is Right ^ | April 7th, 2012 | Jim Emerson

[darkwing104]

Last November, researchers for the Senate Armed Forces Services Committee, reported our military had purchased and installed counterfeit electronic components into Warplanes and other weapons systems. During their research the committee claimed that it found more than a million fake parts in a random sample with approximately 70% of the electronic parts originating from China.

The components would find their way into the Defense Supply Chain through approved commercial distributors who purchase the parts directly from China. The Chinese would purposely pack counterfeit parts with in genuine military grade components and sell the batch to the Defense Logistics Agency at bargain prices with little or no quality assurance checks.

Military grade parts are manufactured to withstand extreme conditions. The counterfeit components are often factory rejects or commercial grade parts which have been relabeled. The most effective method to ensure the quality of parts being purchased is aggressive testing of the parts and the decertification of distributers who are selling fake parts to the military. But apparently those charged with insuring the quality of these parts have not done their job.

According to the Chinese nationalistic commentator Song Xiaojun, the United States is at fault (of course!)

[Silentgypsy]

“Made in China” ping.

[Doe Eyes]

US distributors are under an obligation to not pass along counterfeit parts. Demand better quality-control spot-checks by contractors, and impose heavy penalties on distributors who pass along bad parts, and parts purchases from China will stop.

The company I work for produces military avionics equipment. We require all parts be traceable back to the manufacturer. We also have a very limited list of certified distributors that we buy from.

Counterfeit parts are a problem, but it is also being treated seriously by the defense industry.