This is from the June 4th edition of the AFPC‘s China Reform Monitor:
May 22:
A yearlong U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee probe has found that vast numbers of counterfeit Chinese-made electronic parts are being used in U.S. military equipment. More than 70 percent of an estimated one million suspect counterfeit parts used in the Navy’s SH-60B helicopters, P-8A Poseidon planes, C-130Js, and C-27Js cargo planes, among others, were traced back to China, the BBC reports. Committee staff that attempted to travel to China for the investigation were not granted visas. “Rather than acknowledging the problem and moving aggressively to shut down counterfeiters the Chinese government has tried to avoid scrutiny,” according to the report. The committee also criticized China for failing to shut down counterfeit manufacturers claiming “counterfeit electronic parts are sold openly in public markets in China.” In response, the official China Daily called the accusation an “attempt to distract the U.S. public from the real problems that are plaguing the country” and noted that the U.S. has maintained a military embargo on China for 23 years and called on Washington “to find out who purchased the parts and how they passed muster.”
You “buy” that? Apparently our military procurement system does. But don’t blame Obama. This has been going on for some time now. After all, back in April of 2009, Dr. Joel F. Brenner, then National Counterintelligence Executive (NCIX), stated in an address that:
We’re also seeing counterfeit routers and chips, and some of those chips have made their way into US military fighter aircraft.
At least the Senate is up to the task of getting out a report on the subject of counterfeits from China getting into our military supply chain. Can’t wait for their next heads-up. Maybe by then we’ll learn why there’s been such a problem with the F-22’s oxygen generating system. Ya think?
Don’t hold your breath.
Ciao,
Dennis