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According to a waiver that permits an engine part made of an alloy of Chinese origin, deliveries for the Lockheed Martin Corp. F-35 jet can resume, the Pentagon announced on Saturday. After learning that a magnet in the stealth fighter’s engine was produced with illegal Chinese materials in September, the Pentagon halted the purchase of additional F-35 aircraft. The waiver, which was approved on October 8 by William LaPlante, the Pentagon’s top weapons buyer, permits the use of an alloy in the engine’s oil pump despite it being against U.S. procurement regulations. Unauthorized Chinese content is prohibited in the aircraft.
In a statement, LaPlante stated that the acceptance of the aircraft is required for national security purposes. He further stated that this determination is valid up until the acceptance of the final aircraft covered by the contract, which is anticipated to occur in October 2023.
In order to continue using the metal in future lubrication pumps, the pump’s manufacturer, Honeywell International Inc., will work to locate a substitute source for it.
The magnet does not convey information or damage to planes, and there are no security risks.
The problem, according to Lockheed Martin, which makes the aircraft, “relates to a magnet on the F-35 Turbomachine produced by Honeywell that includes cobalt and samarium alloy,”
In the future, the Joint Program Office will employ an alternative supplier for the alloy, according to its statement.
On the jet, there are other magnets of Chinese origin that had previously been exempted by Pentagon officials.
