6/15/2011 12:03:00 AM
NEWS BRIEFS
Fasteners Among Counterfeit Parts “Infiltrating” Pentagon Supply Chain
China is refusing to assist U.S. Senate investigators probing Chinese firms that are selling counterfeit fasteners and other parts used in high-tech U.S. weapons systems, the Washington Times reports.
“(Senate Armed Services) Committee Chairman Carl Levin, Michigan Democrat, and Sen. John McCain, Arizona Republican, told reporters that a panel investigation revealed that U.S. defense contractors and government agencies traced the sources of most fake defense parts to Shenzhen, in Guangdong province near Hong Kong,” according to the Times.
U.S. investigators reportedly are meeting with U.S. officials in Hong Kong to seek help.
“The Chinese have said, well, even if this could be arranged, there would have to be a Chinese official present during the interviews,” Levin said. “That is a non-starter, somebody looking at our staff while they’re interviewing people who are relevant to an investigation.”
The global supplier network used by the Pentagon provides 4 million parts worth $94 billion, according to the Government Accountability Office.
The parts include fasteners used on aircraft, missile guidance electronics, materials used in body armor and engine mounts.
“Counterfeit parts have the potential to cause a serious disruption to DoD supply chains, delay ongoing missions, and even affect the integrity of weapon systems,” the report said, noting that the problem includes products used by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Energy Department.
Levin said counterfeit parts that have “infiltrated” the defense supply chain include microprocessors bought by the Air Force for F-15 operational flight-control computers, the Times reports.
Counterfeit microcircuits also were found on hardware of the Pentagon’s Missile Defense Agency.
Pending U.S. legislation would continue a ban on Chinese military companies from bidding on U.S. weapons programs. ©2011 GlobalFastenerNews.com
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