The cheapest counterfeit to deal with is the one that never gets installed.
A persistent risk
Counterfeit, recycled and misrepresented electronic parts have been a recognized concern in defense supply chains for years. Long product lifecycles, obsolete components and complex supplier networks create openings for parts that look genuine but are not.
Why detection is not enough
Traditional approaches rely on inspection and testing after parts arrive. These are valuable, but they are costly, slow and probabilistic. A sophisticated counterfeit may pass visual inspection, and testing every part is rarely practical.
From detection to prevention
Prevention means a part must prove it is genuine before it is accepted. With hardware-rooted identity, authentication becomes a simple check at every handoff:
- Fabricate: identity is established at a trusted foundry.
- Ship: each transfer is authenticated and recorded.
- Receive: parts that cannot prove identity are rejected.
- Integrate: only verified parts are installed.
- Sustain: repairs and replacements are verified too.
Zero trust for hardware
This is zero trust applied to the physical world: no part is trusted by default, and every part is verified. It complements existing inspection programs rather than replacing them.
How VAI helps
VAI is designed to give defense supply chains hardware-rooted identity from fab to field. Explore VAI for defense.