As Israel and Iran reach a fragile ceasefire following a dramatic escalation of hostilities, the United States’ use of B-2 stealth bombers to target key Iranian nuclear enrichment sites has drawn global attention to the powerful aircraft. Capable of carrying up to 30,000-pound bombs and evading radar detection, the B-2 Spirit is regarded as one of the most advanced strategic bombers in the world. And here’s how the Indian-origin Noshir Gowadia is linked with it.
Who is Noshir Gowadia?
Born in April 1944 in Bombay (now Mumbai), Gowadia reportedly earned a PhD by the age of 15 and moved to the United States at 19 to study aeronautical engineering. He became a naturalised American in 1969 and just a year later, joined the Northrop Corporation, now Northrop Grumman, which would go on to develop the B-2 bomber.
Gowadia played a pivotal role in the development of the B-2’s stealth propulsion system, designed to minimise its infrared and radar signatures. But after being laid off in 1986 due to a rare blood disorder, Gowadia found himself in financial trouble. He had bought a lavish villa in Maui, Hawaii and needed cash to cover its mortgage.
Desperate, Gowadia began secretly working with Chinese officials in 2003, travelling to China multiple times under false identities. His mission was to help design an exhaust nozzle for a Chinese stealth cruise missile, based on his knowledge of the B-2. He was reportedly paid $110,000, money he used to pay off his debts.
The payments raised red flags with US revenue authorities and the FBI launched an investigation. In 2005, agents raided his home and discovered 500 pounds of classified material. After a lengthy trial in 2010, Gowadia was sentenced to 32 years in prison for espionage.