F-35 Deliveries Halted Over a Chinese #Cobalt and #Samarium Alloy, #Pentagon Says

Posted on September 8, 2022 by Nanthakumar Victor Emmanuel, P.Eng Leave a comment

The Pentagon has halted deliveries of Lockheed Martin Corp.’s F-35 after finding an alloy used in magnets for pumps on the fighter jet was made in China.

“Once the issue was discovered,” the F-35 program office “found an alternative source for the alloy that will be used in future turbomachines,” Goemaere said, and deliveries of F-35s were halted as a precaution.

Lockheed said in a statement that “we are working with our partners and DoD to ensure contractual compliance within the supply chain.” The contractor said the F-35 remains safe for flight, “and we are working with the DoD to resolve the issue as quickly as possible to resume deliveries.”