Pentagon says banned China-made alloy is in all F-35 jets
- The department that oversees the aircraft will now seek a national security waiver to resume deliveries of already assembled jets containing the alloy
- The US has suspended shipping of new F-35s after finding an alloy used in magnets for pumps on the plane was made in China
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 programme office that oversees the aircraft.
The F-35 programme – which may result in over 3,300 jets – will now seek a national security waiver from the Pentagon’s top acquisition official, William LaPlante, to resume deliveries of already assembled new aircraft containing the alloy, F-35 spokesman Russell Goemaere said.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, LaPlante said a waiver was likely if there were no security or safety issues.
“I’m hoping this can be resolved pretty soon,” LaPlante said.
The programme office doesn’t anticipate “replacing magnets in delivered aircraft,” according to Goemaere. Replacing them could entail costly and time-consuming retrofits of the over 500 US training and operational aircraft. The Pentagon and Lockheed Martin Corp., which builds the aircraft, have found a US source for the alloy for future planes, the company said.