U.S. Engineer Accused of Exporting Classified B-2 Stealth Technology
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin reported today that a federal grand jury in Honolulu, Hawaii has indicted Noshir S. Gowadia, a former Northrop Aircraft Inc. engineer currently residing in Maui, on three counts of communication, delivery and transmission of national defense information and three counts of violating the Arms Export Control Act. If convicted, Gowadia, who was employed from 1968 to 1986 with Northrop Corp., faces a maximum 60 years' imprisonment and fines of up to $1.5 million. While at Northrop, Gowadia helped develop an infrared suppression system for the propulsion system of the B-2 stealth bomber.
According to the indictment, Gowadia faxed a foreign official in an unidentified country a proposal to develop infrared suppression technology for a foreign military aircraft and containing top secret level information concerning a U.S. defense system. He is also accused of submitting various proposals to persons in third countries to develop classified infrared suppression technology for foreign commercial aircraft.