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66 SMT Magazine • September 2014 U.S. mILItAry tOOLS tO preveNt COUNterFeIt eLeCtrONICS continues ColuMn The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) imple- mented its own program to proactively address the risk of counterfeits in the defense supply chain via its Qualified Testing Suppliers List (QTSL) program and DNA marking require- ments. The combination of these two programs allows the DLA to establish a new form of trace- ability on items that are needed, but have be- come obsolete and no longer have the required traceability paperwork. If the component can't be traced to the original component manufac- turer (OCM), the QTSL program requires the component be tested for authenticity. Once the component has been tested, it is then marked with specialized DNA to establish forensic trace- ability back to the supplier. In order to further explain the DNA mark- ing program, I have included this excerpt from a DLA document titled "Frequently Asked Ques- tions for DNA Marking": "The Defense Logistics Agency's (DLA) top priority is warfighter support. As a U.S. Depart- ment of Defense (DoD) combat support agency, we are firmly committed to a robust counterfeit mitigation strategy that protects our warfight- ers and the vital missions that they perform. The DLA is modifying microcircuit technical requirements to help prevent counterfeits from entering DLA's Supply Chain by requiring de- oxyribonucleic acid (DNA) marking of authen- tic products. The DLA procures and supplies microcircuits for a broad range of applications within weapons systems and support equip- ment. This new requirement will help to pro- tect DoD weapon systems. Many items which DLA manages are used in more than one weap- on system. The specific list and number of parts which will be subject to the requirement is be- ing defined by DLA using a phased-in approach. While the initial commodity being targeted is microelectronics, the technology could be uti- lized with other commodities. DLA appreciates our supply chain partners' recognition of the significant risk that counterfeit semiconductors pose to the men and woman serving our coun- try. It is a threat that demands immediate and thoughtful countermeasures. We welcome con- tributions by our industry partners, including groups such as the Semiconductor Industry As- sociation, in our efforts to prevent counterfeit semiconductors from entering the DLA Supply Chain." The unique SigNature ® DNA mark is created by Applied DNA Sciences, a New York-based bio- tech company that has developed proprietary DNA marking and authentication platforms to mitigate the risk of counterfeit escapes by assur- ing authenticity, establishing provenance and providing supply chain integrity. This process works in the following manner: Applied Sciences' SigNature DNA are applied to parts that have been tested in accordance to a minimum testing protocol as outlined in SAE's AS6081. Once applied to a component, this mark cannot be washed off, even by the most aggressive industrial treatments. These marks have also proven extremely resilient to extreme conditions such as heat, cold, abrasion and radiation, among others. An additional benefit of DNA marking is the fact that only a minute amount of the original mark is needed for analysis. As DNA is one of the most dense data storage mediums, large amounts of information can be stored in very small samples. Once these marks are applied, they can be scanned via ultra- violet light or sampled and au- thenticated by a chemical swab to determine the supplier and the part's provenance from that point forward. A U.S. Senate Armed Ser- vices Committee investigation figure 1: The Defense logistics Agency requires the use of signature DnA technology.