Obsolete and Counterfeit Electronics Remain Challenges for the Military

Counterfeiting of electronics and components for military systems is widespread, posing an enormous challenge for designers and users. Many military systems are 40 years old or older, so replacement parts can be difficult to find.

Because so many systems with legacy components need to go outside of traditional channels for purchasing devices, buyers tend to encounter counterfeit components of various types within their supply chains, particularly specified parts that are older than a decade, which is nearly every military system in existence.

“We’re going to be flying the B-52 for a century,” points out Thomas Kent, manager of Microelectronics Trust & Assurance at Battelle (Columbus, Ohio), a nonprofit applied science and technology development company.

Read the full article