QRS-11 Gyrochip - POGO - history of the gyrochip

Source: POGO.com

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Boeing Company

Arms Export Control Act Violation (QRS-11 Gyrochip)

Date: 03/28/2006 (Date of Consent Agreement)
Misconduct Type: Import/Export
Enforcement Agency: State Dept.
Contracting Party: None
Court Type: Administrative
Amount: $15,000,000
Disposition: Settlement

Synopsis: Boeing paid a $15 million fine for a violation of the Arms Export Control Act involving unlicensed foreign sales of commercial airplanes containing the QRS-11 gyrochip (gyroscopic microchip), a component that has military applications. The State Department also imposed additional oversight and compliance requirements on Boeing because of three previous export violations (see Boeing instances “Arms Export Control Act Violation (Transfer of Rocket Data to China),” “Defense Services to Russia and Elsewhere (Arms Export Control Act Violation),” and “Wedgetail Project (Arms Export Control Act Violation)”). According to the State Department, between 2000 and 2003 Boeing sold to China and other countries 94 commercial jets with the gyrochip embedded in the flight boxes without obtaining an export license and in “blatant disregard” of State Department directives.

Product Description: The BEI GyroChip™ Model QRS11 is a "MEMS" technology, solid-state "gyro on a chip." This DC input/high-level DC output device is fully self contained, extremely small and lightweight. Since the inertial sensing element is comprised of just one micromachined piece of crystalline quartz (no moving parts), it has a virtually "unlimited" life. The Model QRS11 is a mature product in volume production. It is fully qualified for use on numerous advanced aircraft, missile, and space systems.