via Reuters.
Honeywell decided to move the sensor production to China to save money, and simplify its supply line, he said.A couple of issues for F-35 supporters.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO), the investigative arm of Congress, is also looking into the sensor issue and two others involving the F-35, as part of a report due March 1.
U.S. lawmakers ordered the GAO report because they are concerned American firms are being shut out of the specialty metals market, and that U.S. weapons could become dependent on parts made by a potential future adversary.
Pentagon spokeswoman Maureen Schumann said the Pentagon's Kendall had granted national security waivers to allow foreign-built parts on other aircraft in the past, but had no immediate details about those cases.
DellaVedova, the spokesman for the F-35 program office, said the thermal sensors were simple parts that did not include any software and were not programmable. He said there was no security risk associated with use of the sensors.
He said all the Chinese-built sensors would eventually be replaced on the F-35s, but the process had not yet been completed. He had no immediate information on how many Chinese-built sensors were installed on the planes.
"This will all be taken care of," DellaVedova said.
1. This airplane is compromised. I wouldn't accept Chinese built parts for my rifles or pistols. In a 200 million dollar plus airplane that is suppose to safeguard our future? This is complete and utter bullshit.
2. F-35 supporters can take the "economic" benefits of this jet and shove them up their ass. Honeywell is probably the tip of the iceberg on this but its obvious. They offshore production of certain parts to save money. Not for the taxpayer but for their own bottom line. National security be damned. The American worker be damned. Shareholders and company officials are the only ones that profit from this airplane.
Someone should go to jail. The F-35 program spokesman needs to find a deep hole and think carefully before he speaks again. My nominations for the big house include every Program Manager involved with the program, the Commandant of the Marine Corps and the USAF Chief of Staff, along with every CEO, COO and individual involved with the F-35 from Lockheed Martin.
Barring jail terms the only other thing I wish is that they all fry in hell.
Sidenote: Yeah, I'm pissed. I parroted the talking points for this program for so long and to finally see them in all their glory makes me want to punch walls. Shoot me, stab me, steal from me. I won't like it but I can get over it. Lie to me and then have me lie for you? I'll never forget or forgive.
