Counterfeit Electronics Found in Military Products

The Department of Defence has released an official warning to electronic component suppliers that vendors must pay the costs if any military officials discover that their products include fake electronic components. This is the latest in a campaign launched to stop the flood of fake electronic components finding their way into military products. The purpose of this campaign is to make suppliers check their sources more carefully by threatening them with the costs of replacing all faulty goods found.

The supposed source of these counterfeit parts is China, to be more accurate the Shenzhen area. Sen. Carl Levin wanted to send officials to counterfeit chip shops in Shenzhen, however Chinese officials would not permit senate investigations. The problem has been sourced to many of the US machines being old and needing components that the original manufactures no longer produce. This has meant that the US army has had to use a number of sub-suppliers.

These counterfeit parts are burned off old circuit boards, washed in rivers, dried in the streets and sanded down to remove any identification marks. These parts salvaged from old circuit boards are then re-sold via the internet or open markets.

It is said that the Department of Defence investigation panel will review department documents and material from more than 70 companies. So far they have found around 1,800 cases of suspect counterfeit electronics being sold to the Pentagon. The total number of counterfeit parts is exceeding 1 million.

The blame for this infiltration of fake products has been pointed at the US military trying to cut costs on their expenditure of electronic components. By cutting costs they do not have the proper procedures or resources in place to properly check and source high quality electronic components.

It is important that you ensure that your supplier of electronic components. has a procedure in place to regulate all their components and have detailed knowledge of their origins.

As a supplier, re-seller or a buyer you must be aware of counterfeit electronic components. It is an area of the industry in which many officials and governing bodies are trying to put a stop too and if you are caught buying or selling any counterfeit goods you could be penalised

At Astute electronics our exceptional electronic components counterfeit procedures reflect the work we do with impartial government bodies, major prime OEM's, The UK Electronics Alliance (UKEA) and Intellect (a government trade association for IT, Telecoms and Electronics).