Government sources tell 4Law that Noshir Gowadia, who helped design the B-2, sold secrets about the bomber for hundreds of thousands of dollars to eight nations – Germany, Swiss, Israel, including China.

Update 9/11/06

Noshir S. Gowadia indicted in sale of secrets

4Law - The six-count indictment issued yesterday against Noshir S. Gowadia, 61, of Ha'iku, accuses him of "transmitting national defense information and exporting classified technical data related to defense articles to foreign persons" on three occasions, according to the U.S. attorney's office. Three additional counts accuse the former Northrop Corp. design engineer of violating the Arms Export Control Act. Each of the six counts carries a 10-year maximum prison sentence and a fine up to $250,000. Gowadia was an engineer with Northrop Corp. from 1968 to 1986 and was the chief designer of the B-2's infrared-suppressing propulsion system. The technology remains classified. On Oct. 23, 2002, Gowadia sent an official of an unnamed country a fax containing details for the development of top secret infrared suppression technology for a foreign military aircraft, according to the indictment. The other two examples listed in the indictment involve e-mails that Gowadia allegedly sent Sept. 6, 2004, and Nov. 22, 2004, to foreign business people containing proposals to develop infrared suppression technology for foreign commercial aircraft. The e-mails contained information, including PowerPoint presentations, classified as top secret and secret, according to the indictment. The e-mails were sent to Germany, Swiss, Israel . He sent all of these business proposals without "having first obtained a validated license or written approval from the United States Department of State, Directorate of Defense Trade Controls," according to the indictment.

The Official Press Release

Former Hawaii engineer arrested for disclosing national defense secrets related to the B-2 bomber and sharing classified information with foreign governments. According to 4law source one foreign country is India.

U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation

October 26, 2005

Charles L. Goodwin, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) at Honolulu, Hawaii, announced the arrest of Noshir S. Gowadia for violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 793(e), "willfully communicating national defense information to a person not entitled to receive it".

Noshir S. Gowadia was an engineer employed by Northrop Corporation from November 1968 to April 1986. During this time period, Northrop was involved in the design and manufacture of the B-2 Spirit Bomber, a highly classified project. During his employment with Northrop, Gowadia held a position as a design engineer, and worked in the development of the B-2's propulsion system.

Investigation has revealed that Gowadia, over the last several years, has marketed himself to foreign military entities and other foreign persons and disclosed United States military technology secrets related to the B-2 to foreign governments in order to "assist" them in obtaining a higher level of military technology. Investigation has also revealed that Gowadia has been rewarded financially for his efforts.

On October 26, 2005, a complaint affidavit was filed charging Gowadia with a violation of Section 793(e) for disclosing information related to the national defense to a person not entitled to receive it. As alleged in the complaint affidavit, on October 23, 2002, Gowadia faxed a document containing details for developing infrared technology for a foreign military aircraft to a foreign official in Country "A". This document, which was a proposal for infrared suppression, was determined to be classified at the Top Secret level by the Original Classification Authority of the United States Air Force.

Additionally, the complaint affidavit alleges that Gowadia engaged in other specified criminal activity, during which he communicated or otherwise delivered classified government information to foreign governments or their representatives, specifically to Country "B" and Country "C".

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Air Force, Office of Special Investigations, and the Department of Homeland Security, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and is being prosecuted by the Untied States Attorney's Office and the Counterespionage Section of the Criminal Division of the United States Department of Justice. The investigation is ongoing.

A criminal complaint is an accusation, founded upon probable cause determined by a federal judge. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Assistant U.S. attorney Ken Sorenson, left, and senior trial attorney and co-counsel Robert Wallace Jr. appeared in federal court in the case against Noshir Gowadia. (Photo by BRUCE ASATO - honoluluadvertiser.com)

FBI AFFIDAVIT : USA v. NOSHIR S. GOWADIA

Source Photo FBI :Noshir S. Gowadia