Aviation

Pentagon suspends F-35 deliveries after discovering materials from China

Following Lockheed Martin‘s discovery that a metal component used in the jet’s engine was sourced from China, the Pentagon has temporarily halted the supply of F-35 fighter jets to the military services and foreign customers.

A magnet in the F-35’s Honeywell-manufactured turbo machine, which powers the engine-mounted starter/generator, was recently found to have been made with a cobalt and samarium alloy that originated in China, according to Lockheed Martin.

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A spokesman for the F-35 JPO, Russell Goemaere, acknowledged the magnet doesn’t transmit information or put the aircraft in danger and stated flight operations for F-35s that have already been delivered and put into service will continue as usual.

Defense companies willingly provided information to DCMA and the JPO once the problem was identified, and they were able to locate a different supplier of the alloy that will be utilised in future turbo machines.

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Notably, certain specialised metals or alloys manufactured by “covered countries” identified in the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation series are not permitted to be used, according to US law and a separate Pentagon acquisition regulation.

To make sure the supply chain complies with the contract, we are working with our partners and DOD. Any private programme information is not visible to or accessible to the public. According to Lockheed Martin, the F-35 is still safe for flight, and we are collaborating with the DOD to find a speedy solution so that we can resume deliveries.

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Aviation

Aeroflot Buys Used Planes for Spare Parts Amid Sanctions

In the face of ongoing Western sanctions that have severely impacted Russia’s aviation industry, Aeroflot, the country’s largest airline, has devised a strategic plan to bolster its fleet’s spare parts inventory.

The airline is set to acquire five Boeing 737-800BCF freighters from Atran Airlines, a move that will allow it to dismantle the aircraft for critical components. The planes, which will be transferred to Aeroflot’s low-cost subsidiary Pobeda, will not be converted into passenger jets but instead will be stripped for valuable parts to support existing operations.

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Aeroflot’s plan to purchase these Boeing 737-800BCF freighters comes as part of a broader strategy to mitigate the effects of Western sanctions, which have crippled the Russian aviation sector. With the sanctions restricting access to essential aircraft parts and spare components, Aeroflot is exploring alternative ways to maintain and repair its fleet.

Instead of converting the freighters from cargo to passenger planes, a process deemed “unreasonably expensive” under current sanctions, the airline intends to focus on extracting high-value components such as engines, landing gear, avionics, and other essential systems.

The deal will be structured in a way that allows Aeroflot to indirectly purchase the freighters through an insurance settlement with the aircraft’s lessor, AerCap.

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The Russian government’s insurance company will reimburse the aircraft’s value, and the planes will then be leased back to local operators. This method circumvents some of the restrictions imposed by international sanctions while ensuring that the airline gains access to the necessary components to support its fleet.

By dismantling the aircraft for spare parts, Aeroflot aims to secure critical resources for the ongoing maintenance of its existing fleet. Components from the Boeing 737-800BCF freighters, such as engines and avionics, are expected to be reused in other aircraft within Aeroflot’s network, ensuring that the airline can keep its operations running smoothly