TEMPO.CO, Sydney - United States National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden said Chinese spies had stolen a huge volume of data related to Lockheed's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
According to the Morning Herald, the Chinese allegedly stole 50 terabytes of data, including information about the fighter's detailed engine schematics, "aft deck heating contour maps," methods for cooling exhaust gases and the method the jet uses to track targets.
On April 2014, Australia Prime Minister Tony Abbott said the country would purchase 58 F-35 fighters, which cost more than $12 billion. The jet was expected enter service with the Australian air force in 2020. "The fifth-generation F-35 is the most advanced fighter in production anywhere in the world and will make a vital contribution to our national security," Abbott said.
China uses the information stolen from American intelligence through espionage to help influence its "fifth-generation" fighters, J-20 and Shenyang J-31.
The Australian government has not released an official comment on Snowden's latest disclosures.
SYDNEY MORNING HERALD | ABDUL MANAN
