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 U.S. law and Pentagon regulations, according to the program office that oversees the aircraft.
The component — a magnet used in an aircraft-powering device supplied by Honeywell International Inc. — has been used in the plane since 2003, the Pentagon’s F-35 program office said. On Wednesday, the Pentagon suspended deliveries of new F-35s to make sure the program complies with regulations related to "specialty metals.”
The F-35 program — 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.