Snowden leaks allege China 'stole' key designs of F-35 fighter plane

[Raphael]

BBC News - China 'stole key designs' for new Australia fighter jet

China stole key designs for Australia's new warplane, the US-built F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jet, according to documents leaked by former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden.

The secret documents, cited in German magazine Der Spiegel, indicate Chinese cyber-spies stole "many terabytes of data" relating to the new aircraft.

Australia has ordered 72 of the jets, which will come into service in 2020.

The F-35 is the most expensive defence project in US history.

The stealth aircraft, manufactured by US-based Lockheed Martin, was developed at a cost of around $400bn (£230bn), in a process dogged by delays and unforeseen costs.

The US, British and Australian militaries are among the biggest customers for the jet. Australian and British firms have also been involved in manufacturing parts of the aircraft.

Chinese hackers accessed sensitive information about several US weapons projects, including the F-35, according to a report in US newspaper, The Washington Post, in 2013.

The latest report, based on internal documents from the US National Security Agency (NSA), reveals the scale of the breach. According to Der Spiegel, Chinese spies acquired the designs for the F-35's radar, engine and exhaust cooling systems.

The Australian government has ordered 72 of the new jets, with an option to increase the order to 100, in a deal worth billions of dollars.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop told Sky News Australia that the disclosure underscored the threat from cyber-espionage.

"It does highlight the challenges of cyber attacks, of course, but I'm confident that the United States has taken measures to ensure its intellectual property is protected," she is quoted as saying.

Mr Snowden, a former NSA employee, leaked a vast tranche of information to the media in 2013, revealing the scale of internet and phone surveillance carried out by US intelligence agencies.

He left the US, where he faces espionage charges, and currently lives in Russia.

 

[Gufi]

all is fair in love and war
on a more serious note

China stole key designs for Australia's new warplane, the US-built F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jet, according to documents leaked by former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden.

The latest report, based on internal documents from the US National Security Agency (NSA), reveals the scale of the breach.

Mr Snowden, a former NSA employee, leaked a vast tranche of information to the media in 2013, revealing the scale of internet and phone surveillance carried out by US intelligence agencies.

one needs to consider China hacked for military hardware, while the NSA has been listening into to everyone considering them all guilty. To try and get military secrets from adversaries is an old practice which is accepted and every army tries to do that. But to spy on innocent people and listen into day to day conversations is morally wrong and should not have gone unpunished.
ps. it is very difficult to breach and get so much sensitive data and the abilities of the Chinese hackers are outstanding

 

[Ahmed Jo]

Ok.. What is anyone going to do about it? Lol Arrest China?

 

[terranMarine]

all is fair in love and war
on a more serious note



one needs to consider China hacked for military hardware, while the NSA has been listening into to everyone considering them all guilty. To try and get military secrets from adversaries is an old practice which is accepted and every army tries to do that. But to spy on innocent people and listen into day to day conversations is morally wrong and should not have gone unpunished.
ps. it is very difficult to breach and get so much sensitive data and the abilities of the Chinese hackers are outstanding

What did @gambit say again? USA the better follower of Sun Tzu?

 

[GoGetIt]

So the US intelligence agencies must be sucks.

 

[gambit]

What did @gambit say again? USA the better follower of Sun Tzu?

Absolutely. You guys believe that we sucks, right ?

 

[ArsalanKhan21]

Nobody wants to reinvent the wheel. Spying is second oldest profession. Only through adopting technology discovered/developed in another country that all countries will progress.

 

[bolo]

Chinese hackers accessed sensitive information about several US weapons projects, including the F-35, according to a report in US newspaper, The Washington Post, in 2013.

So this is news reported in 2015?

 

[j20blackdragon]

If hacking and stealing were so easy, why not steal the F119 and F135 engines? Why not steal the Ohio class SSBN and Trident II? Why not steal the B-2? Why not steal the Ford class carrier?

 

[OrionHunter]

So, this is news?

 

[bolo]

If hacking and stealing were so easy, why not steal the F119 and F135 engines? Why not steal the Ohio class SSBN and Trident II? Why not steal the B-2? Why not steal the Ford class carrier?

No need, Chinese can look at a picture of these awesome military machines and manufacture right away

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

When is Snowden going to post something like Aliens in Area 51? At least give us something.

 

[Al Bhatti]

Ok.. What is anyone going to do about it? Lol Arrest China?

Sanction them.

The result, the whole world economy in chaos as no exports from China

Wait. I did not mention their imports yet

 

[TheNoob]

Lol, Better let your foe do all the work and when its done, take their tech and get on par with them just to troll.

 

[JSCh]

The Washington post article that was referred to,

Confidential report lists U.S. weapons system designs compromised by Chinese cyberspies
By Ellen Nakashima May 27, 2013 Follow @nakashimae

Designs for many of the nation’s most sensitive advanced weapons systems have been compromised by Chinese hackers, according to a report prepared for the Pentagon and to officials from government and the defense industry.

Among more than two dozen major weapons systems whose designs were breached were programs critical to U.S. missile defenses and combat aircraft and ships, according to a previously undisclosed section of a confidential report prepared for Pentagon leaders by the Defense Science Board.

Experts warn that the electronic intrusions gave China access to advanced technology that could accelerate the development of its weapons systems and weaken the U.S. military advantage in a future conflict.

The Defense Science Board, a senior advisory group made up of government and civilian experts, did not accuse the Chinese of stealing the designs. But senior military and industry officials with knowledge of the breaches said the vast majority were part of a widening Chinese campaign of espionage against U.S. defense contractors and government agencies.

The significance and extent of the targets help explain why the Obama administration has escalated its warnings to the Chinese government to stop what Washington sees as rampant cybertheft.

In January, the advisory panel warned in the public version of its report that the Pentagon is unprepared to counter a full-scale cyber-conflict. The list of compromised weapons designs is contained in a confidential version, and it was provided to The Washington Post.

Some of the weapons form the backbone of the Pentagon’s regional missile defense for Asia, Europe and the Persian Gulf. The designs included those for the advanced Patriot missile system, known as PAC-3; an Army system for shooting down ballistic missiles, known as the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD; and the Navy’s Aegis ballistic-missile defense system.


Also identified in the report are vital combat aircraft and ships, including the F/A-18 fighter jet, the V-22 Osprey, the Black Hawk helicopter and the Navy’s new Littoral Combat Ship, which is designed to patrol waters close to shore.


Also on the list is the most expensive weapons system ever built — the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, which is on track to cost about $1.4 trillion. The 2007 hack of that project was reported previously.

*****
Look like the pentagon drop the ball big times.

Americans serving in the military should be worry.

Might end up in the receiving end of a turkey shot.

Run while you can !!