Indian in US to be sentenced for selling stealth tech to China

Lalit K Jha

Washington, Jan 24 (PTI) Weeks after China conducted aflight test of its new J-20 stealth fighter, a US federalcourt was today set to sentence Indian-American NoshirGowadia, a former engineer of B-2 stealth bomber, who has beenconvicted of selling military secrets to Beijing.

In August last year, Mumbai-born Gowadia, 66, wasconvicted on 14 counts on charges, including conspiracy,communicating national defense, violating the arms exportcontrol act and information to aid a foreign nation.

He now faces life sentence.

Between 2003 and 2005 Gowadia made six secret tripsinto mainland China and exchanged numerous communications tohelp Chinese defense engineers design a cruise missile that isable to evade air-to-air, heat-seeking missiles, according thefederal indictment against him.

According to court papers, Gowadia hid the proceedsfrom the transactions by directing the payments to secretSwiss bank accounts of foundations he set up in Liechtenstein,the government said in recently filed court documents.

Prosecutors alleged that Gowadia helped design anexhaust nozzle for China that gives off less heat, making itdifficult for enemy infrared detectors to track the missilefor which he got USD 110,000 over two years.

Gowadia worked for Northrup from 1968 to 1986, duringwhich time he helped develop the B-2 bomber''s uniquepropulsion system.

After his employment with Northrup ended, Gowadiacontinued his relationship with the US military as a privatecontractor.

However, following some angry dealings with the AirForce and the Los Alamos National Laboratory in 1993, Gowadiabegan to seek and solicit business internationally, thegovernment said.