Indian-American bomber designer faces trial for helping China

WASHINGTON - An India born former B-2 stealth bomber engineer accused of helping China design a cruise missile with stealth capabilities is due to face trial in the US District Court in Honolulu court this week.

Noshir Gowadia, who became a US citizen in the 1970s and retired from Northrop in 1986, two years before the B-2 made its public debut, has pleaded not guilty to 21 counts, including conspiracy, violating the arms export control act and money laundering.

Moving to the US from India in the 1960s for postgraduate work, Gowadia joined Northrop Corp in 1968 and designed elements of the B-2.

Gowadia, 66, has been in federal detention since his October 2005 arrest because a judge ruled he was a flight risk.

The indictment alleges Gowadia helped design an exhaust nozzle for China that gives off less heat, making it difficult for infrared detectors to find the missile for which he was paid $110,000 over two years.

He allegedly made six trips to China from 2003 to 2005, conspiring to conceal some of his visits by getting border agents to leave immigration stamps off his passport.

He is also accused of attempting to sell classified stealth technology to the Swiss government and to businesses in Israel and Germany.