Engineer convicted of selling missile technology

Noshir Gowadia, 66, was convicted of five offenses following trial in a federal court in Hawaii. Gowadia had been accused of passing on design information which would allow cruise missiles to avoid infra-red detection.

Gowadia was found guilty of illegally communicating classified information, as well as illegally retaining defense information following a 40-day trial.

"Mr Gowadia provided some of our country's most sensitive weapons-related designs to the Chinese government for money," Assistant Attorney General for National Security David Kris said in a statement.

"Today, he is being held accountable for his actions. This prosecution should serve as a warning to others who would compromise our nation's military secrets for profit."

Gowadia was arrested in October 2005 and accused of communicating national defense information to a person not entitled to receive it. Further charges were added on subsequent indictments issued up until 2007.

He was employed as an engineer with Northrop Grumman Corporation for nearly two decades between 1968 to 1986, where he had a role in developing the propulsion system and low observable capabilities of the Stealth bomber.

Gowadia continued to work on classified projects as a contractor for the US Government until 1997 when his security clearance was terminated.

During his trial, prosecutors alleged Gowardia made repeated trips to China between 2003 and 2005 to provide defense services in the form of design, test support and test data analysis of technologies related to China's cruise missle program.

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