{"id":21831,"date":"2016-03-28T11:35:20","date_gmt":"2016-03-28T18:35:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=21831"},"modified":"2016-03-28T11:35:20","modified_gmt":"2016-03-28T18:35:20","slug":"contractors-agree-to-pay-8-million-for-selling-u-s-army-defective-flares-used-to-divert-enemy-heat-seeking-missiles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=21831","title":{"rendered":"Contractors Agree to Pay $8 Million for Selling U.S. Army Defective Flares Used to Divert Enemy Heat-Seeking Missiles"},"content":{"rendered":"

NEW YORK<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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\"Courtroom\"Tennessee and New York-based contractors will pay $8 million to settle a lawsuit alleging that they sold defective countermeasure flares to the U.S. Army, officials announced today.<\/span><\/p>\n

The military uses infrared countermeasure flares used to divert enemy heat-seeking missiles away from aircraft, according to officials.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur warfighters\u2013 along with everyone who relies upon them, including their families \u2013 need to know that the equipment they use is of the highest quality and dependability,\u201d said U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. of New York<\/strong>. \u201cIn this case, the magnesium flares made by Kilgore were literally the last line of defense for our brave aviators.\u00a0Because of today\u2019s resolution, Kilgore will now ensure that similar incidents do not happen in the future.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Kilgore Flares Company and one of its subcontractors, ESM Group Inc., admitted to selling the flares, in the case of ESM, knowingly evading customs duties owed to the \u00a0federal government, officials said.<\/span><\/p>\n

ESM Group, located in New York, manufactures magnesium powder supplied to the chemical, welding and pyrotechnics industries. \u00a0ESM imported magnesium powder used in the flares from China, which it sold to Kilgore Flares, officials said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Department of Justice is committed to ensuring that contractors do not cut corners in manufacturing critical items sold to the U.S. military,\u201d said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer, head of the Justice Department\u2019s Civil Division.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The sale of these flares was brought to light as a result of a whistleblower. This triggered a lawsuit filed by the whistleblower, Reade Manufacturing Co., a domestic manufacturer of magnesium powder, officials said.<\/span><\/p>\n

The act also allows the whistleblower to receive a share of any funds recovered through the lawsuit.\u00a0 Reade Manufacturing received $400,000 as part of the settlement with ESM, according to officials.<\/span><\/p>\n

A primary component of these flares is ultra-fine magnesium powder, which combined with other materials, provides ignition and enables the flares to burn at high temperatures and at rates that mimic an aircraft\u2019s engine.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

Kilgore\u2019s contracts with the army prohibited the use of magnesium powder from foreign countries, except Canada, in order to maintain domestic manufacturing capability in the interest of national defense, according to authorities.<\/span><\/p>\n

These are the allegations against Kilgore and ESM:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n