Chinese National Pleads Guilty to Stealing American Stealth Fighter Designs
Allegations and Evidence of China's Theft
A Chinese national named Su Bin has pleaded guilty to conspiring with the Chinese military to steal military secrets from the United States, including designs for the F-22 and F-35 stealth fighters. This news has raised concerns about China's potential use of stolen design elements in their most advanced stealth fighters, the in-service Chengdu J-20 and forthcoming Shenyang FC-31.
The Conspiracy and Stolen Information
Su admitted to conspiring with two individuals in China from 2008 to 2014 to gain unauthorized access to protected computer networks in the United States. Through this access, they obtained sensitive military information and illegally exported it to China. Su Bin's involvement in the aviation industry, specifically within the Canadian and American defense industries, allowed him to gain access to internal networks maintained by defense contractors in these countries.
The Theft and Cover-Up
Starting in 2008, Su worked with two professional hackers employed by China's People's Liberation Army, resulting in the theft of over 630,000 files from Boeing, which included information on America's stealth fighter programs. Over time, the conspirators gained access to tens of thousands of files related to these programs. The stolen information was translated into Chinese and detailed in reports for China's PLA's General Staff Headquarters.
Efforts were made to hide their tracks by using intermediary networks to disguise the origin of the infiltration. However, the FBI was able to trace their work and confirm that China had accessed the Joint Strike Fighter Program, which produced the F-35, multiple times. Significant information about the aircraft's design and systems was compromised.
Stolen Data Influence on Chinese Stealth Fighter Design
By 2013, Su had established connections with GE Aviation, known for advanced turbofan technologies. In 2014, China's new J-20 design was unveiled, featuring design elements that closely resembled Lockheed Martin's stealth fighters. These similarities, such as modified supersonic inlets and redesigned vertical stabilizers, suggested a significant influence from stolen data.
Arrest and Cooperation
Despite his successes in espionage, Su Bin was arrested by Canadian authorities in 2014 following a criminal complaint and indictment by the U.S. Department of Justice. American law enforcement accessed messages exchanged between Su Bin, his hackers, and Chinese military officials, providing detailed evidence of their espionage efforts. Su agreed to cooperate fully with American authorities and waived his extradition hearing, resulting in his transfer to the United States.
In exchange for his cooperation, Su Bin accepted a plea agreement for a 46-month sentence, shorter than the possible 30-year imprisonment he could have faced. This plea agreement demonstrates the importance of his cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of Chinese theft of American military secrets.
Overall, this case has highlighted China's ongoing efforts to steal advanced military technology from the United States and raises concerns about the potential use of stolen designs in their own stealth fighters.
Analyst comment
As an analyst, I would classify this news as negative. The evidence of China’s theft of American stealth fighter designs raises concerns about the security of sensitive military information. In the market, this could lead to increased scrutiny of cybersecurity measures and potentially impact defense contractors involved in stealth fighter programs.
