F-35 deliveries suspended over Chinese magnet

The Joint Program Office has temporarily suspended deliveries of new F-35 aircraft after finding that a magnet that's part of the turbomachine, a component that starts the engine, was sourced from China. The components don't transmit data, or pose a risk to the program, but under the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement, DFARS, components and materials from China are prohibited. Honeywell, who makes the components, said that the supplier has already found a new source for materials, and Lockheed has said that the magnets are magnetized in the US.

Lockheed is working with the Pentagon to resolve the problem. It's possible that they'll be able to receive a national security waiver to deliver the aircraft that have already been produced, or are far enough along in the assembly process that they have the magnets installed. It's not clear how long the delivery halt will go on for, or how the magnets slipped through the process this long. The current magnets don't pose a threat to safety for the existing aircraft, so they'll continue to fly as normal.

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon has temporarily halted deliveries of F-35 fighters following the discovery that the raw materials used for a magnet in the plane were produced in China.

In a release Wednesday, Lockheed Martin said a magnet in the F-35′s Honeywell-made turbomachine — an engine component that provides power to its engine-mounted starter/generator — was recently discovered to have been made with cobalt and samarium alloy that came from China.

Lockheed said the alloy for this part is magnetized in the United States.

Company spokeswoman Laura Siebert said magnets on F-35s already delivered will not be replaced with magnets made from non-Chinese materials because the Pentagon has decided the magnets are safe for flight and do not put sensitive program information at risk.

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a reply to: Zaphod58

Good catch 👍

a reply to: Zaphod58

They'll by routers and firewall hardware from China to plug into sensitive data networks and not bat an eye, but a magnet? OH, NOOOOOOO!!!!!!

SMH...

we don't have magnets?



i have them all over my fridge.



do they have to tear the engine down to replace them?

The Pentagon has approved a waiver to allow deliveries to start up again. Congress has been briefed on the waiver, but the JPO declined to comment, and Lockheed said they were unaware of the waiver.

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon has approved a waiver that would allow Lockheed Martin to resume F-35 deliveries that were halted over the discovery of an alloy made using unapproved materials from China.

A Senate aide confirmed to Defense News that key lawmakers — including leaders from both parties on the Armed Services committees and members of other relevant committees — on Friday received a letter from the Pentagon saying undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment William LaPlante had signed a waiver and that deliveries can resume.

The Pentagon and the F-35 Joint Program Office declined to comment for this story. Lockheed Martin said it had not been officially notified of the waiver and could not comment.

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Magnets? How do they work?

a reply to: sarahvital

These are a little more powerful than your fridge magnet, and require speciality materials.

a reply to: Lysergic

It’s part of a pump system in the engine. They have several that operate different engine systems.

They are stupid, if the effing magnet passed the military QC check, then just use it as is and source future craft with US magnets.

a reply to: ATSAlex

That's what they're doing, but if they just went ahead and did it, Lockheed could be hit with significant fines for violating the law.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: Lysergic

It’s part of a pump system in the engine. They have several that operate different engine systems.

Wow it's like a miracle!

originally posted by: Lysergic

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: Lysergic

It’s part of a pump system in the engine. They have several that operate different engine systems.

Wow it's like a miracle!

What demonry!!