DTN News - CHINESE COUNTERFEIT PRODUCTS: China Fake Parts 'Used In US Military Equipment'

Defense News: DTN News - CHINESE COUNTERFEIT PRODUCTS: China Fake Parts 'Used In US Military Equipment'
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources BBC World News
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - May 22, 2012: Vast numbers of counterfeit Chinese electronic parts are being used in US military equipment, a key Senate committee has reported.

A year-long probe found 1,800 cases of fake parts in US military aircraft, the Senate Armed Services Committee said.

More than 70% of an estimated one million suspect parts were traced back to China, the report said.

It blamed weaknesses in the US supply chain, and China's failure to curb the counterfeit market.

The failure of a key part could pose safety and national security risks and lead to higher costs for the Pentagon, the committee said.

US servicemen rely on a variety of "small, incredibly sophisticated electronic components" found in night vision systems, radios and GPS devices and the failure of a single part could put a soldier at risk, the report said.

It highlighted suspect counterfeit parts in SH-60B helicopters used by the Navy, in C-130J and C-27J cargo planes and in the Navy's P-8A Poseidon plane.

After China, the UK and Canada were found to be the next-largest source countries for fake parts.

'Avoiding scrutiny'

The committee criticised China for failing to shut down counterfeit manufacturers and said that committee staff wanting to travel to China for the investigation had not been granted visas.

"Counterfeit electronic parts are sold openly in public markets in China," the report said.

"Rather than acknowledging the problem and moving aggressively to shut down counterfeiters, the Chinese government has tried to avoid scrutiny," it added.

But the report said that use of Department of Defense programmes such as the Government-Industry Data Exchange Program (GIDEP), designed to log suspected fake parts, were "woefully lacking".

Between 2009 and 2010 the GIDEP only received 217 reports relating to suspected fake counterfeit components, the majority of which were filed by just six companies, it said. Only 13 reports came from government agencies.

The report also said that in some cases the US defence department had reimbursed contractors for the costs they incurred as a result of their failure to spot fake components in their own supply chain - giving companies no incentive to weed out counterfeits themselves.

But it praised the National Defense Authorization Act, signed into law on 31 December 2011 by President Barack Obama, which aims to stop counterfeit parts from entering the country and would cut down on sourcing components from unknown suppliers.

The report's focus on China comes as the US is beginning the task of "pivoting" its defence strategy towards the Asia-Pacific region.

The Pentagon is also preparing to absorb about $450bn (£285bn) of cuts over the next decade.

But it could face cutbacks of a further $500bn if mandatory across-the-board spending cuts come into effect at the end of 2012, after Congress failed to reach a deficit reduction plan last year.

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources BBC World News
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*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
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DTN News - UAE DEFENSE NEWS: Boeing Delivers 5th C-17 to UAE Air Force And Air Defence

Defense News: DTN News - UAE DEFENSE NEWS: Boeing Delivers 5th C-17 to UAE Air Force And Air Defence
 *C-17 airlifters delivered to United Arab Emirates in 2011; 6th scheduled for delivery in 2012
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Boeing
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - May 22, 2012: Boeing [NYSE: BA] delivered a fifth C-17 Globemaster III airlifter to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Air Force and Air Defence earlier this month. The UAE accepted delivery of four C-17s in 2011 and has one more airlifter on order for delivery later this year.

"It's amazing to see all that the UAE has accomplished with its fleet of C-17s in such a short time, including standing up a new base; qualifying three aircraft commanders and four mission-ready loadmasters; and conducting humanitarian aid and peacekeeping missions," said Bob Ciesla, Boeing Airlift vice president and C-17 program manager. 

"We're proud to be a part of the UAE Air Force and Air Defence mission long after each C-17 is delivered. With a mission-capable rate above 90 percent, UAE C-17s are ready to save lives and deliver hope whenever they are needed."

The UAE, Boeing's sixth international C-17 customer, received its first airlifter on May 10, 2011. Since that time, the UAE Air Force and Air Defence C-17 fleet has amassed more than 2,000 flight hours and carried more than 3,000 passengers and nearly 4 million pounds of cargo.

As a part of the worldwide C-17 "virtual fleet," UAE C-17s are supported through the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III Integrated Sustainment Program (GISP), a Performance-Based Logistics agreement. The GISP arrangement provides the highest airlift mission-capable rate at one of the lowest costs per flying hour.

Boeing has delivered 243 C-17s worldwide, including 216 to the U.S. Air Force active duty, Guard and Reserve units. A total of 27 C-17s have been delivered to Australia, Canada, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the 12-member Strategic Airlift Capability initiative of NATO and Partnership for Peace nations. India has 10 C-17s on order for delivery in 2013 and 2014.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world's largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $32 billion business with 61,000 employees worldwide. Follow us on Twitter: @BoeingDefense.

Contact:

Cindy Anderson
Boeing Defense, Space & Security
+1 562-253-5818
cindy.a.anderson@boeing.com

Fakher Daghestani
Middle East Communications
Boeing International Corporation
Mobile: +971 506 254855
fakher.a.daghestani@boeing.com

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Boeing
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DTN News - NATO SUMMIT IN CHICAGO: Barack Obama Snubs Asif Ali Zardari At NATO

Defense News: DTN News - NATO SUMMIT IN CHICAGO:  Barack Obama Snubs Asif Ali Zardari At NATO
*U.S. has dole out over $100 billion to Pakistan since 1950 with zero gain and multifaceted problems
>Five Decades of Aid to Pakistan, 1950 - 2001
It is not much of an exaggeration to state that since independence in 1947, Pakistan has been an aid-dependent nation. Some estimates suggest that the gross disbursement of overseas development assistance to Pakistan from 1960 to 2002 (in 2001 prices) was $73.1 billion, from both bilateral and multilateral sources.
Almost 30 percent of this official development assistance came in the form of bilateral aid from the United States, the largest single bilateral donor by far.
>U.S. Financial aid to Pakistan since 9/11
Between 2002-2010, Pakistan received approximately 18 billion in military and economic aid from the United States. In February 2010, the Obama administration requested an additional 3 billion in aid, for a total of $20.7 billion.
Western officials have claimed nearly 70% ( roughly $3.4 billion) of the aid given to the Military assistance has been misspent in 2002-2007 and used to over Civilian Deficit. However U.S-Pakistani relationship has been a transactional based and U.S military aid to Pakistan and aid conditions has been shrouded in secrecy for several years until recently . In a startling revelation, an update released says that US funding to Pakistan has more than doubled since President Obama took office in 2009. In fiscal 2010 US gave nearly $4.3 billion to Pakistan, up from about $3 billion in 2009 and $2 billion in 2008. The US fiscal year runs from October to September.
>As of May 21, 2012 - Is Pakistan an opportunistic or a greedy country
In an unmistakable snub, President Barack Obama left Pakistan off a list of nations he thanked Monday for help getting war supplies into Afghanistan and refused to meet Mr Zardari yesterday in the midst of Pakistan's refusal to compromise over increasing the fee for trucks to pass through its territory to Afghanistan from $US250 ($253) to $US5000 almost two-thousand percent increase. Now, Pakistan has lost its credibility globally as a reliable or a dependable ally to fight or to stamp out terrorism and militancy.
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources BY: BRAD NORINGTON, WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT From: The Australian
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - May 21, 2012: BARACK Obama has snubbed Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari despite inviting him to a NATO summit in Chicago, as a bitter dispute rages over supply routes that could disrupt the planned US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The US President refused to meet Mr Zardari yesterday in the midst of Pakistan's refusal to compromise over increasing the fee for trucks to pass through its territory to Afghanistan from $US250 ($253) to $US5000.

Pakistan closed its borders and then demanded the huge price rise for moving US supply trucks through its territory after US air strikes killed 24 Pakistani soldiers in November.

Mr Zardari was invited to the NATO talks at late notice and US officials appear to have hoped a settlement of the transportation issue could have been reached before his arrival.

Instead, the conflict worsened yesterday.

It was made clear that Mr Obama was unwilling to meet Mr Zardari, and the diplomatic task was handed to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

The dispute with Pakistan has forced unacceptable costs on the US as trucks transporting up to 40 per cent of equipment to and from Afghanistan have been forced to use a longer route through Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

The US insists strikes that killed Pakistani soldiers were accidental because the troops concerned appeared hostile.

It has also refused to issue a full apology, which has been demanded by Pakistan.

The rise in Pakistan's fee per truck is not only considered unreasonable retaliation but also a potential stumbling block as Washington draws up plans for withdrawing large amounts of military equipment from Afghanistan for a planned troop withdrawal by the end of 2014.

The argument over transportation fees is only the latest flare-up in relations. It follows US doubts about Pakistan's loyalty and its alleged double-dealing with the Taliban and insurgent groups considered terrorists.

The US still suspects senior Pakistani intelligence officials knew al-Qa'ida leader Osama bin Laden was hiding in a town with one of the country's largest military barracks for five years when Mr Obama ordered a commando raid on his hideout last year.

Meanwhile, the Pakistani government resents the unauthorised raid on its territory.

The US President yesterday met Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai at the NATO summit in Chicago.

The pair discussed plans to wind down the war and hand security to local forces while maintaining an American military commitment for a decade after the official 2014 withdrawal.

Using words similar to those for Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Mr Karzai thanked Mr Obama for "taxpayers' money" used to support his country as the US pledges continued support for an Afghan military after the official foreign troop withdrawal at a cost of $US4 billion a year.

Under the withdrawal schedule, local Afghan forces are meant to be responsible for the country's security by mid-next year.

All combat troops are to be withdrawn by the end of 2014.

Administration officials said yesterday that the invitation to Chicago for Mr Zardari had not come from Mr Obama personally but through NATO.

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources BY: BRAD NORINGTON, WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT From: The Australian
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