The Pentagon has discovered Chinese-made components in major US weaponry, including Boeing’s (BA.NYSE) B-1B bomber and certain Lockheed Martin (LMT.NYSE) F-16 fighters, Reuters reported, citing the US Defense Department. A senior US defense official said titanium mined in China may also have been used to build part of a new Standard Missile-3 IIA being developed jointly by Raytheon (RTN:NYSE) and Japan. US law bans weapons makers from using raw materials from China, among other countries. It was reported in January that the Pentagon had permitted Lockheed to use Chinese magnets to keep the US$392 billion F-35 program on track.
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