Noshir Gowadia: India-born US engineer developed propulsion system of B-2 bombers; later jailed for helping China build cruise missile

The United States deployed its B-2 Spirit bombers in Sunday's strikes on three key nuclear facilities in Iran. The aircraft, sometimes also referred to as the “Stealth” bomber, has an Indian connection - a US citizen of Indian origin was involved in the development of the plane's propulsion system.

The engineer, Mumbai-born Noshir Gowadia , was later sentenced to over 30 years in prison for sharing classified military information with China, with which Beijing developed a cruise missile exhaust system to make Chinese cruise missiles resistant to detection.

Noshir Gowadia and the B-2 Spirit bomber

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Gowadia, now 81, was first arrested in October 2005 on a criminal complaint which alleged that he "wilfully communicated" national defense-related information to a person "not entitled to receive it."

As per information produced during the trial, Gowadia worked with Northrop Grumman Corporation - the makers of B2 bombers - for almost 20 years, from approximately 1968 to 1986. During this time, he contributed to the development of the unique propulsion system and low observable capabilities of the B-2; the naturalized US national also continued to work on classified matters as a contractor with the with the United States government until 1997, when his security clearance was revoked.

Noshir Gowadia and visits to China

Evidence displayed at the trial showed that Gowadia visited China six times between June 2003 and July 2005 to provide defense services in the form of design, test support and test data analysis of technologies for the purpose of helping Beijing build a cruise missile system by developing a stealthy exhaust nozzle.

At the time of his arrest, Gowadia had been paid at least $110,000 by the Chinese.

The sentencing

Gowadia was found guilty in August 2010, following six days of deliberation after a trial spanning nearly four months in Honolulu. In January 2011, he was handed a jail term of 32 years.