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U.S. fighter jet project breached by hackers

Computer spies have repeatedly breached the Pentagon's costliest weapons program, the $300 billion Joint Strike Fighter project, The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday. The newspaper quoted current and former government officials familiar with the matter as saying the intruders were able to copy and siphon data related to design and electronics systems, making it potentially easier to defend against the plane. I guess it is a good thing that on April 6, 2009 US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced that the US would buy a total of 2,443 JSFs! If only the companies working on the project would have had secure systems.

Citing people briefed on the matter, it said 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 paper said. The Journal said Pentagon officials declined to comment directly on the matter, but the paper said the Air Force had begun an investigation.

CNET News

Posted by | Tue, Apr 21, 2009 - 08:44 AM