The defense quality control agency said Monday that 34 local providers of military equipment parts forged or doctored their quality test documents on 125 occasions over the past three years.

The announcement sparked criticism that quality checks were inadequate and concerns that crucial military equipment with flawed parts could fail when tensions with North Korea still remain high.

In an inspection of 136,844 products procured over the past three years, the Defense Agency for Technology and Quality discovered the irregularities and ordered that all parts with false test certificates be replaced.

Among the firms were some 23 companies that offer parts for tanks, self-propelled howitzers, choppers, military attire and food supplies. They were accused of falsifying the test results of their components in 103 cases in total.

The DATQ conducts quality tests on core military products. But it allows contractors that provide less significant parts to submit test results issued by certain certified testing organizations.

“We judge that those firms have taken advantage of weak points in the quality control system. We found that the quality of the parts in question is not seriously substandard, and that there have not been any complaints so far over the parts,” said DATQ chief Choi Chang-gon.

“But there could be some impact on the durability and credibility of the parts. Thus we have ordered the recall of all of their products and demanded all these firms compensate for them.”

According to the DATQ, one firm, which makes a bracket, a part of a tank, falsified test results on 57 occasions. Another firm falsified its documents on nine occasions for an insulating board for the K-9 self-propelled howitzer.

One subcontractor was found to have doctored test results twice when it offered raw materials used in the production of the country’s indigenous Surion utility helicopter. Firms that provide parts for K-1, K-2 and M48 tanks, and K-10 ammunition delivery vehicles were also caught altering test documents.

Industry sources said some companies that had previously been caught for irregularities changed their company names and representatives and went on to win defense contracts again. Observers said stricter measures should be crafted to prevent forgery and other irregularities.

By Song Sang-ho
(sshluck@heraldcorp.com)