Taiwan weapons maker alleges contractor tried to supply ‘fake products made in China’ for its missile defence systems
- National Chung-shan Institute of Science and Technology says it discovered the substandard components while inspecting a delivery last year
- It says it has sued the company, which it did not name, while lawmakers have called for the case to be investigated
The National Chung-shan Institute of Science and Technology on Thursday said it had discovered the silicon-controlled rectifiers (SCRs) – which it described as “counterfeit products made in China” – while inspecting a delivery last year.
They should have been US-made components, according to the contract.
In a statement, the institute said it had uncovered the contractor’s “illicit act” during an inspection in March last year. “We took the case to the judicial authorities and sued [the firm] for compensation,” the institute said.
It did not name the company and the case has yet to go to court.
SCRs are an important current-controlling component used in Taiwan’s missile defence systems. Made from silicon, the device is used to discharge a capacitor through the detonator to fire the warhead.