The B-2 stealth bomber has an Indian connection.
New Delhi: The 12-day war between Israel and Iran was halted after a ceasefire deal on the intervening night of June 23-24, but not before the USA bombed three Iranian nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. The US targeted these sites with fighter jets and the touted B-2 stealth bombers. Even though the ceasefire is in place as of now and the concerned countries are busy with endeavours to get things back on track, situation is still volatile.
How did B-2 excel?
However, one thing that stole the limelight was the role played by the United States’ B-2 stealth bombers in striking three Iranian nuclear enrichment sites. B-2 bombers are capable of dropping 30,000-pound bombs and that is a massive weight and an equally massive destruction.
But did you know that the highly celebrated B-2 stealth bombers have an Indian connection?
B-2 bomber’s Indian connection?
As we mentioned that B-2 has an Indian connection, we will tell you about it. The name is Noshir Gowadia, the Indian brain behind America’s game changer aircraft.
Noshir Gowadia was born in 1944 in Bombay in a Parsi family. He exuded brilliance from a young age and is said to have earned a PhD by the age of 15. He moved to the United States when he was 19 to study aeronautical engineering and became a naturalized US citizen in 1969. Later he joined Northrop Corporation, now known as Northrop Grumman.
When Gowadia built B-2 bomber with amazing features
Noshir joined Northrop at a crucial time for the USA as it was trying to modify the weaknesses exposed during its prolonged war with Vietnam and Yom Kippur. His skills were valuable as the US had lost thousands of aircraft and was in need of making a plane that could not be seen. Noshir made one as he designed the B-2 stealth bombers after spending over 20 years to design and make the propulsion system so that its exhaust was invisible to heat sensors and radars.
The B-2 stealth bomber could not be detected. It could drop 40,000 pounds of explosives and fly 10,000 nautical miles (18520 km) with single refuelling.
What were Gowadia’s struggles?
Gowadia and his work were highly praised, and he became a hero for the American military. He was relieved Northrop in 1986 due to a rare blood disorder after which he bought a villa in Maui, Hawaii with high loan. The loan instalments were proving too much for the genius, and he was in dire need of money.
How did Gowadia lose all respect and prestige?
Somehow, Gowadia could not handle the pressure and tried short cuts to make easy money. He began a secret partnership with Chinese officials in 2003 and travelled to the country six times using various aliases. His job was to help China build a stealth cruise missile by designing an exhaust nozzle that reduced infrared and radar signatures similar to the B-2.
Reportedly, the Chinese paid him $110,000 for this which he used to pay off his loan. But he could not hide this large sum of money from the revenue officials and. The FBI began an investigation when shipping documents related to him raised suspicions.
When FBI arrested Gowadia
He was arrested by the FBI who charged him with giving secret defense information to unauthorized parties. According to prosecutors, the information mostly related to the B-2 project, and at least eight foreign countries were shown documents relating to the B-2’s stealth technology. In an affidavit, Gowadia admitted to transmitting classified information, and stated that he did so “to establish the technological credibility with the potential customers for future business.” Gowadia was held without bail after his arrest.
Also, the FBI found 500 pounds of evidence in his Hawaii home, including computers, blueprints, emails, and thumb drives filled with sensitive data.
Noshir Gowadia was sentenced to 32 years in prison after a four-month-long trial in 2010.
