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India.com
30-06-2025
- Business
- India.com
Who is Noshir Gowadia? Indian who built US B-2 stealth bombers, hailed as a hero, now in jail because..., he is from...
New Delhi: The 12-day war between Israel and Iran was halted after a ceasefire deal on the intervening night of June 23-24, but not before the USA bombed three Iranian nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. The US targeted these sites with fighter jets and the touted B-2 stealth bombers. Even though the ceasefire is in place as of now and the concerned countries are busy with endeavours to get things back on track, situation is still volatile. How did B-2 excel? However, one thing that stole the limelight was the role played by the United States' B-2 stealth bombers in striking three Iranian nuclear enrichment sites. B-2 bombers are capable of dropping 30,000-pound bombs and that is a massive weight and an equally massive destruction. But did you know that the highly celebrated B-2 stealth bombers have an Indian connection? B-2 bomber's Indian connection? As we mentioned that B-2 has an Indian connection, we will tell you about it. The name is Noshir Gowadia, the Indian brain behind America's game changer aircraft. Noshir Gowadia was born in 1944 in Bombay in a Parsi family. He exuded brilliance from a young age and is said to have earned a PhD by the age of 15. He moved to the United States when he was 19 to study aeronautical engineering and became a naturalized US citizen in 1969. Later he joined Northrop Corporation, now known as Northrop Grumman. When Gowadia built B-2 bomber with amazing features Noshir joined Northrop at a crucial time for the USA as it was trying to modify the weaknesses exposed during its prolonged war with Vietnam and Yom Kippur. His skills were valuable as the US had lost thousands of aircraft and was in need of making a plane that could not be seen. Noshir made one as he designed the B-2 stealth bombers after spending over 20 years to design and make the propulsion system so that its exhaust was invisible to heat sensors and radars. The B-2 stealth bomber could not be detected. It could drop 40,000 pounds of explosives and fly 10,000 nautical miles (18520 km) with single refuelling. What were Gowadia's struggles? Gowadia and his work were highly praised, and he became a hero for the American military. He was relieved Northrop in 1986 due to a rare blood disorder after which he bought a villa in Maui, Hawaii with high loan. The loan instalments were proving too much for the genius, and he was in dire need of money. How did Gowadia lose all respect and prestige? Somehow, Gowadia could not handle the pressure and tried short cuts to make easy money. He began a secret partnership with Chinese officials in 2003 and travelled to the country six times using various aliases. His job was to help China build a stealth cruise missile by designing an exhaust nozzle that reduced infrared and radar signatures similar to the B-2. Reportedly, the Chinese paid him $110,000 for this which he used to pay off his loan. But he could not hide this large sum of money from the revenue officials and. The FBI began an investigation when shipping documents related to him raised suspicions. When FBI arrested Gowadia He was arrested by the FBI who charged him with giving secret defense information to unauthorized parties. According to prosecutors, the information mostly related to the B-2 project, and at least eight foreign countries were shown documents relating to the B-2's stealth technology. In an affidavit, Gowadia admitted to transmitting classified information, and stated that he did so 'to establish the technological credibility with the potential customers for future business.' Gowadia was held without bail after his arrest. Also, the FBI found 500 pounds of evidence in his Hawaii home, including computers, blueprints, emails, and thumb drives filled with sensitive data. Noshir Gowadia was sentenced to 32 years in prison after a four-month-long trial in 2010.
Time of India
26-06-2025
- Time of India
He leaked B-2 bomber secrets to a US ally and an arch enemy - where Noshir Gowadia is now will shock you
Noshir Gowadia 's name is not as famous as a few of the other infamous prisoners at the US Penitentiary at ADX Florence, commonly referred to as "The Alcatraz of the Rockies," as per a report. Prisoners in federal jail include, Terry Nichols, one of the Oklahoma City bombers, and his accomplice, Timothy McVeigh, who was also held at Florence before his death sentence was carried out, according to the We Are The Mighty report. Gowadia, one of the chief designers of the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber for designing a game-changing propulsion system, became a patriot-turned-traitor when he divulged key secrets to both a US ally and US' enemy, according to the report. From India to America: Noshir Gowadia's Rise Born in India in 1944, Gowadia immigrated to the United States and even became a US citizen, as per the report. By 1968, he was working for Northrop, a leading defense contractor, where he worked for two decades, playing a pivotal role in developing stealth technology , which is the low-observable technology, and helped to design the B-2 bomber's unique features, according to the We Are The Mighty report. During the years he worked there, the technology which he helped develop was applied to Tacit Blue, a secret stealth technology demonstrator Northrop flew in the initial days of stealth, as per We Are The Mighty report. ALSO READ: Lake Tahoe horror: DoorDash exec Josh Pickles among 8 dead in California's worst boating tragedy since 2019 Live Events Noshir Gowadia: The Stealth Bomber Engineer Who Shared Secrets to Other Countries Trusted with Top Secret clearance , Gowadia created this new technology, which is a key part of the US Air Force's then-newest bomber, what would come to be called the B-2 Spirit , according to the report. He worked on various aspects of the aircraft, mostly on its propulsion system and components that prevent heat-seeking missiles from tracking it, but Gowadia eventually left Northrop Grumman to start his own technology consulting business, that is when his moves started getting shady, as reported by We Are The Mighty. ALSO READ: Trump dynasty goes Euro-resort: Ivanka and Jared transform ex-Soviet arms base into billion-dollar haven A Turning Point He founded N.S. Gowadia, Inc. in 1999, so that he could lend his skillset to the highest bidder and take home all the money instead of working for a salary, as per the report. Gowadia then started teaching classes in foreign countries and to foreigners for money, he even shared the secret information learned from his time at Los Alamos labs, according to We Are The Mighty report. Illegal Leaks and Espionage His actions just kept getting more illegal, then in 2002, he faxed a Top Secret Air Force document, which had details of the infrared technology, to at least three foreign countries, as per the report. He also sent China a cruise missile design and shared the details of its effectiveness against American air-to-air missiles, a charge he had later argued was based on unclassified information, according to a We Are The Mighty report. ALSO READ: Iran-Israel war: 700 Iranians may face imminent execution within days for this alleged grave mistake Investigation and Arrest Then, investigators finally caught Gowadia and even searched his Hawaii home, where they found evidence that he might have sent secret information to almost eight foreign countries, as per the report. The investigators even claimed that he had secretly travelled to China to help the People's Republic develop the same stealth exhaust system he developed for the B-2 bomber, as reported by We Are The Mighty. As per claims of the authorities, he had shared secrets with Germany, Israel, and China, and possibly with other countries, all under the guise of establishing his technology credentials and growing up business, reported by We Are The Mighty. According to the report, Gowadia was on over a dozen espionage charges, espionage-related charges, and money laundering. Gowadia was even held without bail while awaiting trial, which came five years later and then, after deliberating for more than five days, the jury came back with a guilty verdict, and Gowadia was sentenced to 32 years in jail, as reported by We Are The Mighty. FAQs What did Noshir Gowadia do that was illegal? He shared Top Secret US military technology with foreign nations, including China, Germany, and Israel. How did Gowadia get access to secret information? He worked for Northrop Grumman for 20 years with a Top Secret clearance, helping develop stealth technology.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Yahoo
Why a principal designer of the Stealth Bomber is in a supermax prison
There are a lot of infamous names sitting in the escape-proof U.S. Penitentiary at ADX Florence – also known as 'The Alcatraz of the Rockies.' Terry Nichols, one of the Oklahoma City bombers, is there. His accomplice, Timothy McVeigh, was also held at Florence before his death sentence was carried out. Former federal agent Robert Hanssen, one of the most damaging spies in American history, was imprisoned there before he completed his life sentence on June 5, 2023. The Unabomber spent time there, as did the Shoe Bomber, one of the Boston Marathon Bombers… you get it. These people are the worst. Considering the company he's in, it's no wonder very few people know the name Noshir Gowadia, either in or out of the joint. Gowadia was one of the chief designers of the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber. He's not only notable for designing the propulsion system and technology that helps protect the B-2 from heat-seeking missiles – he's also noteworthy for sharing that information with China, Israel, and others. Noshir Sheriarji Gowadia was born in India in 1944, but came to the United States as a young man. He became a U.S. citizen and, in 1968, started working for Northrop. For 20 years, he worked for the company, one of America's top defense contractors. There, he helped to develop critical components of an emerging post-Cold War field. He was creating low-observable technology for aircraft, or as we all have come to call it: 'stealth.' In the years he worked there, the technology he helped develop was applied to Tacit Blue, a secret stealth technology demonstrator Northrop flew in the earliest days of stealth. With a Top Secret clearance, Gowadia was trusted to create this new technology, a crucial part of the U.S. Air Force's then-newest bomber, what would come to be called the B-2 Spirit. As the development of Northrop's stealth technology continued, Northrop became Northrop-Grumman. All the while, Gowadia continued working on various stealth aspects of the B-2's development, including its secret rear section, with its specially-designed suppressed engine exhaust ports. Although he worked on various aspects of the aircraft, particularly its propulsion system and components that prevent heat-seeking missiles from tracking it, Gowadia eventually left Northrop Grumman to start his own technology consulting business. This is where his efforts go from patriotic to shady and then to downright illegal. N.S. Gowadia, Inc. was founded in 1999 so its founder could lend his skillset to the highest bidder and take home all the money instead of working for a salary. Nothing could be more American than that. Almost immediately, however, he began teaching classes in foreign countries (to foreigners) for money, using secret information he picked up from his time at Los Alamos labs. Using what you know to make money might be the American dream, but using secret information to teach another country is a crime. But Gowadia didn't stop there. In 2002, he faxed (yes, faxed) a Top Secret Air Force document detailing infrared technology to at least three foreign countries. If that wasn't bad (or dumb) enough, Gowadia also sent China a cruise missile design and detailed its effectiveness against American air-to-air missiles, a charge he would later argue was based on unclassified information. When investigators finally caught on to Gowadia, they searched his Hawaii home and found evidence that he might have sent secret information to as many as eight foreign countries. They even believed he had secretly traveled to China to help the People's Republic develop the same stealth exhaust system he developed for the B-2 bomber. Right away, things looked bad for Gowadia, but his troubles didn't end there. His company only claimed $750,000 in gross receipts during the time period in question, while Gowadia was purchasing land on the Hawaiian island of Maui and building an almost 7,000-square-foot mansion on it – later valued at $1.64 million. Among the numerous counts for which he was indicted, four of them were related to laundering money from the Chinese government. Gowadia was actually on more than a dozen espionage charges, espionage-related charges, and money laundering. He was held without bail while awaiting trial, which came five years later. After deliberating for more than five days, the jury came back with a guilty verdict, and Gowadia was sentenced to 32 years in jail. It's not known just how damaging Gowadia's spying was, but authorities are aware that he handed over secrets to Germany, Israel, and China, and possibly to other countries – all under the guise of establishing his technology credentials and drumming up business. We Are The Mighty is a celebration of military service, with a mission to entertain, inform, and inspire those who serve and those who support them. We are made by and for current service members, veterans, spouses, family members, and civilians who want to be part of this community. Keep up with the best in military culture and entertainment: subscribe to the We Are The Mighty newsletter. Aviation nerds are mourning Iran's F-14 Tomcats RTX's Raytheon awarded $590 million production contract for Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band The Massive Ordnance Penetrator is a 30,000-pound bunker buster bomb
Sky News AU
25-06-2025
- General
- Sky News AU
‘Extreme challenge for the pilots': What it feels like to fly a B-2 Spirit bomber jet
Air Force Global Strike Command Deputy Commander Mark Weatherington explains what it's like to operate a Northrop B-2 Spirit bomber jet. 'The B-2 is very similar to most of the aircraft that we operate,' Mr Weatherington told Sky News host Sharri Markson. 'Long duration … can be an extreme challenge for the pilots, very fatiguing. 'It's an extreme effort, but they handle it very well, skilfully and professionally.'
Time of India
25-06-2025
- Time of India
'Blueberry milkshake': Who is Noshir Sheriarji Gowadia? Bombay-born Parsi prodigy helped make US B-2 bombers, then became Pentagon nightmare
MUMBAI: A brilliant Bombay-born engineer helped build America's deadliest ghost in the sky. Then he betrayed it. Sold its secrets to China. Decades later, the same B-2 stealth bombers he helped perfect unleashed bunker busters on Iran's nuclear facilities in Operation Midnight Hammer on June 22. Noshir Sheriarji Gowadia, now 81, sits behind bars in Colorado's Florence, serving a 32-year sentence handed down on Jan 24, 2011. The former Northrop engineer helped design the B-2 stealth bomber's propulsion system, held top-level security clearance, and taught classified aeronautics. He was convicted of espionage after passing classified information to Beijing. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai Born April 11, 1944, to a Parsi family, Gowadia reportedly earned the equivalent of a PhD by 15. At 19, he left for US to study aeronautical engineering and became a naturalised American on July 25, 1969. A year later, he joined Northrop, where he was instrumental in developing the B-2 Spirit's infrared-shielded propulsion system. "The entire geometry came from me," Gowadia later boasted. His internal codename: "Blueberry Milkshake". Northrop secured the B-2 contract in 1981, the bomber's defining breakthrough being its radar-elusive profile. Gowadia's work reduced visual, infrared, and radar signatures - vital to B-2's stealth edge. He left Northrop to start his own defence consultancy in Albuquerque, retaining security clearance. He advised on CIA aircraft and nuclear weapons at Los Alamos, and in 1999, launched NS Gowadia Inc. But mounting expenses drove him to look abroad for clients - a search that ended in China. Gowadia made three trips to China, providing details on stealth propulsion. Beijing used the information to build an undetectable exhaust system for cruise missiles. His total payment: $110,000. Years later, satellites picked up what looked like a B-2 clone drone at a Chinese air base. On Oct 13, 2005, FBI agents knocked on Gowadia's Hawaii home. Gowadia was convicted in 2010, on 14 counts including disclosure of B-2 designs to China and other nations.
