Hackers break into jet fighter weapons project

 

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By Reuters

Posted on 21 Apr 2009 at 08:28

Hackers have repeatedly breached the Pentagon's costliest weapons program, the $300 billion Joint Strike Fighter project, according to newspaper reports.

The Wall Street Journal has spoken to current and former US Government officials, who claim the intruders were able to copy and siphon data related to design and electronics systems, making it potentially easier to defend against the plane.

The spies could not access the most sensitive material, which is kept on computers that are not connected to the internet, the paper adds.

The intruders entered through vulnerabilities in the networks of two or three of the contractors involved in building the fighter jet.

Lockheed Martin is the lead contractor. Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems also have major roles in the project. Lockheed Martin and BAE declined comment and Northrop referred questions to Lockheed.

The Journal says Pentagon officials declined to comment directly on the matter, but the paper claims the Air Force has begun an investigation.

The identity of the attackers and the amount of damage to the project hasn't been established.

The former US officials claim the attacks seem to have originated in China, although the Chinese Embassy says China "opposes and forbids all forms of cyber crimes".

The officials also claim there have been breaches of the US Air Force's air traffic control system in recent months.