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Several. Although, since we're talking Pentagon, that's only true to the extent that they're willing to provide the data sheets...
by anoonmoose 9y ago
Several. Although, since we're talking Pentagon, that's only true to the extent that they're willing to provide the data sheets...
- moftz 9y agoThe Pentagon isn't buying chips. The defense contractor working for the Pentagon is buying the chips and either testing in-house or subcontracting that out. Almost everything is going to be legit stuff. Fakes are only really going to show up in legacy design hardware that isn't being updated with stuff that's in stock at reputable vendors. So the only option is to find second-hand sources for that stuff because the contract wasn't to redesign the hardware, only to build it. Or it's coming from hardware that was bought in the US but manufactured in China by someone else and a manager over there decided to sub in some really cheap chips instead of the legit ones because they still work the same but might not be as rugged or maybe that guy was fooled too by a shady vendor. Maybe the vendor thought they were real too and was fooled by the chip manufacturer. You can always point the finger upstream. Good companies check up on their vendors and test their parts. Bad companies let themselves get fooled and suffer fines and bad reputation.
- anoonmoose 9y agoI work as part of the chain you described there. I agree with nearly everything you said. The only points I would make would be the following: One, the government does occasionally purchase chips themselves. It's uncommon and they're difficult to work with but it happens. Two, work on legacy designs is very common, and not being able to source the components from reputable vendors is also very common.