F-35s All Contain Banned China-Made Alloy Pentagon Says
- Alloy in magnet poses no risk to security or flight safety
- Security waiver needed to resume deliveries, avoid retrofits
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Every one of the more than 825 F-35 fighter jets delivered so far contain a component made with a Chinese alloy that’s prohibited by both US law and Pentagon regulations, according to the program office that oversees the aircraft.
The component -- a magnet used in an aircraft-powering device supplied by Honeywell International Inc. -- has been used in the plane since 2003, the Pentagon’s F-35 program office said. On Wednesday, the Pentagon suspended deliveries of new F-35s to make sure the program complies with regulations related to “specialty metals.”