Top Gun takeover: Stolen F-35 secrets showing up in China’s stealth fighter

[unhappycamper]

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/mar/13/f-35-secrets-now-showing-chinas-stealth-fighter/



Design data on F-35 stolen in 2007

Top Gun takeover: Stolen F-35 secrets showing up in China’s stealth fighter
By Bill Gertz - Washington Free Beacon
Thursday, March 13, 2014

A cyber espionage operation by China seven years ago produced sensitive technology and aircraft secrets that were incorporated into the latest version of China’s new J-20 stealth fighter jet, according to U.S. officials and private defense analysts.

The Chinese cyber spying against the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II took place in 2007 under what U.S. intelligence agencies codenamed Operation Byzantine Hades, a large-scale, multi-year cyber program that targeted governments and industry.

Defense officials said the stolen data was obtained by a Chinese military unit called a Technical Reconnaissance Bureau in the Chengdu province. The data was then passed to the state-run Aviation Industry Corp. of China (AVIC).

An AVIC subsidiary, the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group, used the stolen data in building the J-20, said defense and intelligence officials familiar with reports of the illicit tech transfer.

[KeepItReal]

1. Too bad the USA doesn't have an Agency to safeguard National Security items like this

The most advanced American fighter in development (to my knowledge) and the Chinese can get its secrets?

We might as well fold up Lockheed Martin and just pay the Chinese to build the F-35 for us. Bet they'd knock a few million off the per unit cost...

Ugh.

[tech3149]

2. Have at it!

Nothing worse than stealing a bad idea.
But seriously, much of the technology is truly amazing and is something you wouldn't want to lose. Who knows? It might be that the technology is a step backwards or the already have it.