Chinese counterfeit parts infiltrating US weapons system

Over a million Chinese counterfeit electronics parts are being used in American military hardware, a key Senate Committee has warned, raising the possibilities that some of these fake parts may have been used in military jets which have been sold to India.

After a year long probe, the Senate Armed Services Committee said in a report that it had uncovered 1800 cases of fake parts used in military hardware mostly helicopters and aircraft.

The report highlighted that counterfeit parts may have been used in SH-60B helicopters used by Navy SEALS, C-130J and C-27J cargo planes and in the navy's P8A Poseidon's'. The report could be alarming for India as it has purchased C-130J transport aircraft for the air force and P8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft for the Navy, in direct military-to-military sales.

However, it was not clear from the report whether hardware sold to India had any counterfeit products made in China. More than 70% of an estimated one million suspect parts were traced back to China. "Our report outlines how this flood of counterfeit parts, overwhelmingly from China, threatens national security, the safety of our troops and American jobs," Senator Carl Levin, chairman of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee said in a statement as he released the report running into 72 pages.

"Our committee's report makes it abundantly clear that vulnerabilities throughout the defense supply chain allow counterfeit electronic parts to infiltrate critical US military systems, risking our security and the lives of the men and women who protect it," Ranking Member of the Committee Sen John McCain said.