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Oz Defence deals on US Stealth probed
 Dirty Deeds and they're Done Dirt CheapAN independent investigation has been ordered into whether the Defence Department tried to illegally buy secret US Stealth technology for RAAF aircraft. He's double dealin' with your best friend- That's when the teardrops start. Attorney-General Philip Ruddock launched the investigation after a Defence Department inquiry found $1 million had been paid to a US engineer, now imprisoned in Hawaii and facing espionage charges. Here's what you gotta do -Pick up the phone-I'm always home Indian-born American Noshir Gowadia is facing 60 years' jail for allegedly selling classified B-2 bomber Stealth technology to foreign powers and corporations. Call me any time-Just ring-36 24 36 hey-I lead a life of crime The technology is at the heart of the B-2's ability to evade heat-seeking missiles. An investigation by The Australian last month revealed that Mr Gowadia, 61 -- one of three lead engineers who developed the B-2 Stealth technology at the US-based Northrop Corporation -- co-owned a Canberra-based company with Australian defence employee and former navy lieutenant-commander Arthur Lazarou. NTech Australia is one of two companies US prosecutors allege was central to the illegal sale of the technology. Pick up the phone-Leave her alone-It's time you made a stand US media reports have named China and Australia as among the countries that may have acquired Stealth secrets. Several charges against Mr Gowadia relate to the passing of secret documents and classified information, through training courses, to foreign governments at the time Canberra was doing business with NTech. In response to questions from The Weekend Australian, the Defence Department said a preliminary investigation showed it paid $1 million to NTech between 1999 and 2003. "Defence purchased around $1million worth of services (for studies and training relating to defence projects) from NTech Australia between 1999-2003," it said. For a fee-I'm happy to be-Your back door man The department said its investigation had yet to find "any evidence of illegality". But Defence Minister Robert Hill referred the matter to Mr Ruddock this week. "The Minister for Defence has written to the Attorney-General requesting an independent investigation to ensure that, in NTech's dealings with Defence, no disclosure of US classified information to Defence took place outside of established channels," the statement said. Dirty Deeds and they're Done Dirt Cheap The department confirmed a report by The Australian last month that it had carried out testing of NTech's Advanced Infra-Red Suppression System (AIRSS) for the RAAF's Hercules C-130 transport aircraft. The AIRSS, according to a 2002 postgraduate thesis written by Mr Lazarou, 44, was developed by Mr Gowadia "in conjunction" with his work on the B-2 bomber. FBI documents used to support the charges against Mr Gowadia claim he marketed an infra-red military suppression system for aircraft "derived in whole or in part from his work on the B-2". Testing was called off in late 2002 after Mr Gowadia insisted on owning all intellectual property rights from the venture. After initially denying the charges, Mr Gowadia allegedly later admitted passing classified information to foreign countries. "At the time, I knew it was wrong and I did it for the money," he said. Dirty Deeds and they're Done Dirt Cheap US Assistant Attorney Ken Sorenson has obtained from The Australian the university thesis by Mr Lazarou detailing NTech's dealings with Canberra. Concrete shoes, cyanide, TNT Done Dirt Cheap Neckties, contracts, high voltage Done Dirt Cheap Posted by: DepotGuy 2005-12-13 |
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