[bane]

Right, so I'm guessing that there are two possible explanations:

1) There is something (HW or SW) on the satellite and it was installed with full knowledge of the assembly group.

2) There's nothing unusual on the satellite and something else, politics perhaps, are at play here. I wouldn't count out a desire to not have U.S. sourced parts on a military bird. Just like the U.S. doesn't want to have Chinese sourced hardware (even if it's just door handles).

[drdeadringer]

I had the thought that perhaps how folks are more willing to call the US out on practices that have up-to-now been accepted wholesale or common practice?