"The so-called evidence that has been used to launch groundless accusations against China is completely unjustified," Hong Lei, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, told reporters, according to Reuters.
U.S. National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden said Chinese spies stole a huge volume of data related to Lockheed's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the Australian Associated Press reported, and military experts say Beijing likely used the information to help develop its latest generation of fighters. Snowden shared signals data documenting the Chinese theft with German magazine Der Spiegel, and the Australian government is aware of the “serious damage” from the breach, the Sydney Morning Herald said.
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, the Morning Herald said.
China apparently used information stolen from American intelligence through espionage to influence "fifth-generation" fighters, military experts told the Morning Herald. The Chengdu J-20 and the Shenyang J-31 threaten the superiority the West has in the skies.
Last year, Australia Prime Minister Tony Abbott said the country would purchase 58 more F-35 fighters, which cost more than $12 billion, Sky News, Australia, said. "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, according to the Morning Herald. The jet was expected enter service with the Australian air force in 2020.
The Australian government has not released an official comment on Snowden's latest disclosures.
Snowden leaked information about the NSA to media outlets in June 2013. Some of the information disclosed, like global surveillance programs, caused controversy. While his actions have been labeled criminal by the U.S. government, some consider him a hero. After he allegedly released hundreds of thousands of secret documents, Snowden took refuge in Russia. If he came back to the U.S., he would face espionage charges.
Snowden has continued to speak out since making his original disclosures, and is to appear at a Hawaii conference via video, KHON, Honolulu, reported. He is to talk after a showing of the Oscar-nominated documentary “Citizenfour” at the First Amendment conference at the Hawaii Convention Center Feb. 14.
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史諾登爆料︰中國駭客 盜美F35機密
2015-01-20 〔編譯管淑平／綜合報導〕流亡俄羅斯的美國國家安全局（ＮＳＡ）前包商雇員史諾登（Edward Snowden）披露最新ＮＳＡ絕密文件，指稱美國洛克希德馬丁公司開發的第五代戰機F-35「閃電二式」（F-35 Lightning II）多功能匿蹤戰鬥機（見圖，美聯社），大量設計機密遭中國竊取。
美國洛克希德馬丁公司開發的第五代戰機F-35戰鬥機。（圖取自網路維基百科）
澳洲《雪梨晨驅報》十八日引述《明鏡》披露的文件報導，遭 竊的F-35機密包括雷達系統組件型號、引擎細部設計圖、戰機排氣的冷卻方式、「尾艙加熱輪廓圖」等，資料量達「數個兆位元組（terabyte）」。史 諾登提供的文件首度公開證實此事，並披露竊密規模。據了解，F-35機密遭竊主要發生在二○○七年。
對此，中國外交部發言人洪磊十九日駁斥是「毫無根據」、「無端攻擊」。此前航空軍事專家便揣測，中國第五代戰機殲-20（J-20）、殲-31（J-31）大幅度仰賴竊自美國的機密，以藉此削弱美國及其盟邦的空中優勢。
駭美國防部系統逾三萬次
《明鏡》報導指出，ＮＳＡ和五眼夥伴藉由追蹤網路竊密活動源頭，進行反情報作業，成功滲透中國用於網路攻擊的電腦系統、甚至一名高階軍官的電腦，從而得知其竊取的外國情資。澳洲政府去年宣布，將斥資超過一百二十億美元增購五十八架F-35。一 份ＮＳＡ簡報以「拜占庭冥王」（Byzantine Hades）為代號，指稱中國網路竊密活動，指其成功入侵美國國防部系統至少三萬次，一年內被列為「重大入侵事件」次數達五百起，總資料量估計達五十兆位 元組（50terabytes）、相當於「五座美國國會圖書館」，造成的損失和相關修復成本達上億美元。
