Once celebrated for his groundbreaking contributions to America’s most advanced bomber, Indian-origin aerospace engineer Noshir Gowadia now sits in a high-security US prison, convicted of betraying the very country he helped defend. 

In a remarkable twist, his story is not just about espionage but is a window into how decades of technological edge can be undone by one man’s actions.

The Man Behind America’s Stealth Might

Born in Mumbai in 1944, Gowadia moved to the United States in the 1960s and rose to prominence as a senior design engineer at Northrop, now Northrop Grumman.

His work played a crucial role in shaping the B-2 Spirit bomber, America’s stealth marvel capable of evading radar and infrared detection, most recently having bombed Iran.

Among his key contributions were innovations in propulsion and exhaust systems that reduced heat signatures, essential for penetrating enemy airspace undetected.

Even after retiring from Northrop in 1986, Gowadia continued working with the U.S. government as a contractor until his security clearance was revoked in 1997. But it was what followed that drew the attention of federal authorities.

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A Web of Secret Trips, Money Trails, and Military Designs

According to NDTV reports, between 2003 and 2005, Gowadia made multiple trips to China, where he delivered technical designs and support related to stealth propulsion and cruise missile systems.

He earned at least USD 110,000 from Chinese entities, using the money to pay off his luxury beachfront home in Hawaii. When the FBI raided his property in 2005, they uncovered over 500 pounds of evidence in documents, electronics, and detailed military presentations. In 2011, he was sentenced to 32 years in federal prison.

China’s Stealth Leap: Coincidence or Consequence?

Just months after Gowadia’s conviction, China tested its first stealth fighter, the J-20, in 2011. Five years later, it unveiled the H-20 long-range stealth bomber, widely seen as a parallel to America’s B-2.

While China has never officially acknowledged the source of its advancements, intelligence reports suggest that stolen US technologies, including those passed on by Gowadia, played a significant role.

In May 2025, satellite images revealed a massive new flying-wing stealth aircraft at a Chinese test base near Xinjiang, bearing a striking resemblance to the B-2 in both design and wingspan. The aircraft was spotted alongside infrastructure likely tied to next-generation Chinese programs such as the H-20 and J-36.

A Legacy of Innovation Tainted by Treason

Today, as global tensions rise and stealth warfare becomes increasingly central to military strategy, the ripple effects of Gowadia’s actions are being felt more than ever. The aircraft he helped build still defines American dominance in the skies, but the secrets he sold now fly in rival skies as well.

What began as a journey of scientific excellence ended in betrayal, showing how a single defection can shift the balance in an international arms race.