Weapons suppliers found to have fudged test scores
Defense Agency says suppliers altered test scores on equipment standards to meet deadlines or reduce testing costs
By Park Byong-su and Kim Kyu-won, staff reporters
Left, a self-propelled K-9 Howitzer. Right, a Korean-made Surion utility helicopter.
The Defense Agency for Technology and Quality (DATQ) announced their findings of 125 cases of munitions suppliers forging or altering official test scores for parts over the past three years.
In a press release on Nov. 11, the DATQ announced that an examination of all the 136,844 official testing organization scorecards for munitions delivered to the government in the three years since 2011 showed 91 score forgeries by 20 suppliers and 34 alterations by 14 suppliers.
The list included 95 items from 17 businesses that supply parts to major defense companies like Hyundai Rotem (which makes armored recovery vehicles), Samsung Techwin (self-propelled K9 howitzers), Doosan DST (the K200A1 armored vehicle), Korea Aerospace Industries (the Surion utility helicopter), and EO System (night vision binoculars).
The bulk of the irregularities - 103 forgeries or alterations by 23 businesses - were for test scores on products by subcontractors producing parts for ground and aircraft equipment. In twenty-two cases involving 11 businesses in areas such as food and clothing, contracting businesses were found to have independently directed the misrepresentations.
The defective supplies included not just everyday clothing items like uniforms and combat boots, but also parts for the K9 howitzer - the subject of questions over its response capabilities after North Korea’s shelling of Yeonpyeong Island in 2010 - as well as tanks, armored cars, and even helicopters.
73 cases of altered test scores were found in partner businesses’ official test scores for the armored recovery vehicle produced by Hyundai Rotem. These included 57 score forgeries for bracket results, and another seven for U-bolts. Nickel content in sheet metal was inflated from 8.02% to 9.32% to meet the specified level of 9.0-13.0%.
Another 13 test score misrepresentations were found for Samsung Techwin’s K9 howitzers (mobile and truck-mounted), considered South Korea’s leading long-range artillery. Vehicle latch hardness and recoil scores were altered to meet tensile strength requirements, while insulation board scores were found to have been forged.
In the case of Doosan DST’s K200A1, air duct hose tensile strength and air purifier filtration scores were altered to meet standards.
Three other score misrepresentations found on parts for the Surion, and other five for IO System night vision binoculars.
In addition to the weaponry, six companies were found to have misrepresented test scores eight times for telescopes, uniforms, and combat boots.
The DATQ reported the suppliers as saying they had made the changes to meet delivery deadlines or cut testing costs.
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