A US Air Force F-35 Lightning II aircraft is pictured refuelling in February. Despite declaring a halt to deliveries of F-35 fighters after discovering they contain a component made from a Chinese alloy, jets already delivered will not be pulled from service. Photo: US Department of Defence/AFP
A US Air Force F-35 Lightning II aircraft is pictured refuelling in February. Despite declaring a halt to deliveries of F-35 fighters after discovering they contain a component made from a Chinese alloy, jets already delivered will not be pulled from service. Photo: US Department of Defence/AFP
US-China relations
China /  Military

Military analysts blame US cold war sentiment for halted delivery of F-35 fighters containing Chinese alloy

  • A magnet in the F-35’s turbomachine was found to be made from cobalt and samarium alloy from China
  • Decision ‘does not bode well’ for China-US relations and Pentagon’s approach suggests US military is pulling China into a new cold war: academic

Minnie Chan
Minnie Chan

Updated: 8:18pm, 8 Sep, 2022

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A US Air Force F-35 Lightning II aircraft is pictured refuelling in February. Despite declaring a halt to deliveries of F-35 fighters after discovering they contain a component made from a Chinese alloy, jets already delivered will not be pulled from service. Photo: US Department of Defence/AFP
A US Air Force F-35 Lightning II aircraft is pictured refuelling in February. Despite declaring a halt to deliveries of F-35 fighters after discovering they contain a component made from a Chinese alloy, jets already delivered will not be pulled from service. Photo: US Department of Defence/AFP
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