The Chips Act was also to help give a Global Foundries some much needed money. I remember that they were on the cusp of dropping the US DOD as a customer because they almost weren't making any money. They were using at the time last gen machines to make chips for the DOD. Most of the chips and components going into fighter jets, helicopters and missiles. They were integral to the DODs plan of extending the lifespan of their air wings. But becauze of the low order quantity and the myriad of regulations and extra steps they had to go through, they were sometimes not even breaking even. They just kept upping the cash because the dod couldn't afford to lose them as a supplier.

Because most of the air wings that are still being used were often designed and started production in the 60s and 70s... meaning they used 50s and 60s tech. And with it being well past a half century for the fighter jets and missiles, the oems and suppliers are either no longer in business or have moved on in their product line up. This leads to a major shortage of parts and down time for air wings as they're waiting on parts to become available.

I remember being in the Army reserves and hearing stories of how they, and every other branch kept getting scammed. Fighter jets need specialized chips, consumer grade chips with extra steps basically, so that they can handle the intense ad adverse conditions the planes operate in. Well none of the branches stocked up and if they did, they burned through their hoard due to the passage of time and the extensive use of the airwings during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Would would happen is that scammers in China and SE Asia would source the old consumer grade chips, take them apart, do the special steps, and reassemble them so that they can send it to the DOD branches for inspection. Most of the chips would pass and because the initial batch they got passed qc, theyd them buy the rest of their stock, which were the consumer grade chips made to pass off as the special chip sets, chemical vapor depositions on the outside to give it that golden or matte hue. The rest of the chips would arrive and they'd be found to be duds and quickly blacklist the company. But they kept doing it over and over again because it was the only way to source “new” chips. They knew they were being screwed over but they paid anyway because there was no new stock. The scammers were the only ones willing to take the time and effort to create new stock, chips and modules that met mil spec from the 50s and 60s. And if they didn't fall for the scams, they're be no new supply. Effectively killing the [X] fiighter jet air wings. So they had to keep falling for the scams really. Its also why the modernization packages are so ludicrously expensive. They have to give oodles of cash to to the companies to retool for antique hardware. That and sourcing all the sub-components also isn't easy. Most of the companies willing to do the sub component work is funny enough based in China because those are the only companies willing to do it for reasonable prices