Air Force asked to reduce supply chain 'dependency' on China

Lawmakers Rob Wittman and Elise Stefanik are calling on the Air Force to reduce its supply chain “dependency” on China for “critical weapons platforms.”

In a letter addressed to Frank Kendall, secretary of the U.S. Air Force, the congressmen say the Air Force has increased its usage of Chinese suppliers by 68.8% in the last year, according to a report from Govini in its Annual National Security Scorecard.

Wittman, a Republican from Virginia, lamented the Pentagon for identifying China as a great national security threat while relying on the country for critical weapons components.

“Despite the Pentagon having identified China as the greatest strategic threat to the United States, the department continues to rely on China for components in critical weapons platforms that are being produced to deter conflict,” said Wittman.

“In addition to identifying the PRC as a pacing threat, DOD has also recognized that the PRC seeks to defeat the United States without engaging in armed conflict. Allowing China access and leverage over DOD supply chains empowers Beijing to do just that,” the congressmen wrote. “The reliance on the PRC for components is a well-established challenge to new programs and legacy programs alike which will take great effort to mitigate. For example, in 2016 the U.S. Air Force identified avionics in 50 weapons systems, including the F-35, with embedded PRC-related hardware vulnerabilities. Several other DOD programs have faced similar challenges; DOD is still reliant, for example, on PRC optics suppliers for optical sighting and ranging equipment.”

Wittman applauded the Army and Navy for taking steps to decrease their reliance on China while singling out the Air Force to do more to stem the dependency.

“With our Army and Navy both able to decrease their reliance on Chinese suppliers over the past year, it is unacceptable for our Air Force to still rely on 130 Chinese suppliers across 15 critical technology areas. The service branch must do everything it can to reduce this dire threat to U.S. national security,” the congressman added.

The congressmen say that the increasing dependence on PRC suppliers is “clearly the wrong direction” compared to other branches, which have moved to reduce their need from China.

Wittman and Stefanik, a New York Republican, request that the secretary respond to their request by Oct. 7. The lawmakers are asking Kendall to answer several questions on dependence, People's Repubiic of China suppliers, and how the Air Force plans to address the vulnerabilities.

“Which DAF-related supply chains have become more dependent on PRC suppliers in the past year, what caused the increased dependency, and which if any programs are now more reliant on PRC suppliers today than a year ago?" the lawmakers wrote in conclusion. "What is the DAF’s strategy to address its supply chain vulnerabilities, and how has the DOD National Defense Industrial Strategy informed its approach?What are the roadblocks – informational, financial, statutory, or otherwise – that have hindered DAF’s strategy from being maximally effective?”