Quick Info
| Profession | Spy, Former Design Engineer |
|---|---|
| Nationality | American |
| Date of Birth | 11/04/1944 |
| Age | 82 years |
| Birthplace | Bombay, Bombay Presidency, British India (now Mumbai, Maharashtra, India) |
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Bio/Wiki
| Full Name | Noshir Sheriarji Gowadia |
|---|---|
| Religion | Zoroastrianism |
Physical Stats & More
| Eye Color | Black |
|---|---|
| Hair Color | Salt & Pepper |
Educational Qualification(s)
| Degree | PhD in Aeronautical Engineering (reportedly earned by age 15); Degree in Aeronautical Engineering |
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Personal Life
| Religion | Zoroastrianism (Parsi) |
|---|---|
| Marital Status | Married |
Relationships & More
| Wife/Spouse | Cheryl Gowadia |
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Family
| Spouse | Cheryl Gowadia |
|---|---|
| Children | Son - Ashton Gowadia |
Career
| Overview | Noshir Gowadia was a design engineer who played an instrumental role in developing the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber's propulsion system at Northrop Grumman (1968-1986). He designed the bomber's exhaust system to be imperceptible to radar and infrared sensors, working under the project codename Blueberry Milkshake. After leaving Northrop, he continued working on classified matters as a defense contractor until 1997, when his security clearance was terminated. He later engaged in espionage, providing classified defense information to China between 2003 and 2005. |
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| Legal Issues | Arrested in October 2005 for willfully communicating national defense information to unauthorized persons. Convicted on 14 of 17 charges on August 9, 2010, in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii. Sentenced to 32 years in prison on January 24, 2011. Charges included selling classified information to China, Germany, Israel, and Switzerland. During six trips to China from July 2003 to June 2005, he provided designs, test support, and test data analysis to help China develop a stealth exhaust nozzle for cruise missiles, receiving at least $110,000 in payment. |
| Key Achievements | Principal designer of the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber's propulsion system; Developed innovative exhaust configurations and radar-absorbing materials that reduced the B-2's radar, infrared, and visual signatures; Made significant contributions to stealth technology that gave the U.S. military a strategic advantage |
Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. Noshir Gowadia was academically gifted, reportedly earning a PhD by the age of 15. | |
| 2. He moved to the United States in 1963 specifically to study aeronautical engineering. | |
| 3. He became a naturalized American citizen on 25 July 1969. | |
| 4. Gowadia shared critical stealth technology information, significantly impacting international military capabilities. | |
| 5. His trial revealed complex psychological evaluations regarding his fitness to stand trial. | |
| 6. His internal codename at Northrop was Blueberry Milkshake during the B-2 stealth bomber project. | |
| 7. He spent seven years working on the B-2's tailpipe, a revolutionary project that made the plane virtually impossible to track using conventional radar or infrared detection. | |
| 8. Gowadia stated The entire geometry came from me regarding the B-2's propulsion system design. | |
| 9. After leaving Northrop, he started his own defense consultancy in Albuquerque while retaining security clearance. | |
| 10. The B-2 Spirit bomber he helped design can carry up to 40,000 pounds of bombs and fly 10,000 nautical miles with one refueling. | |
| 11. His trial revealed that a PowerPoint presentation on the exhaust nozzle of a Chinese cruise missile project was key evidence in his conviction. |