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Australia fighter jet data theft 'shows cyber-spy risk' | Australia fighter jet data theft 'shows cyber-spy risk' |
(2 days later) | |
The reported theft by Chinese spies of designs for Australia's new warplane, the US-built F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jet, highlights the risk of cyber-espionage, an Australian minister said. | The reported theft by Chinese spies of designs for Australia's new warplane, the US-built F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jet, highlights the risk of cyber-espionage, an Australian minister said. |
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop also told Sky News she was confident that the US would guard its intellectual property. | Foreign Minister Julie Bishop also told Sky News she was confident that the US would guard its intellectual property. |
She was responding to media reports, citing leaked US documents, of the theft of a huge amount of F-35 data. | She was responding to media reports, citing leaked US documents, of the theft of a huge amount of F-35 data. |
Australia has ordered 72 F-35 jets, due to come into service in 2020. | Australia has ordered 72 F-35 jets, due to come into service in 2020. |
However, China has forcefully denied stealing the designs. | |
The F-35 is the most expensive defence project in US history. The stealth aircraft, manufactured by US-based Lockheed Martin, was developed at a cost of around $400bn (£230bn), in a process dogged by delays and unforeseen costs. | The F-35 is the most expensive defence project in US history. The stealth aircraft, manufactured by US-based Lockheed Martin, was developed at a cost of around $400bn (£230bn), in a process dogged by delays and unforeseen costs. |
The US, British and Australian militaries are among the major customers for the jet. Australian and British firms have also been involved in manufacturing parts of the aircraft. | The US, British and Australian militaries are among the major customers for the jet. Australian and British firms have also been involved in manufacturing parts of the aircraft. |
Billion-dollar deal | Billion-dollar deal |
A report by Australia's Fairfax Media says China stole "many terabytes of data" for the new aircraft, according to documents leaked by Edward Snowden, a former intelligence contractor who worked at the US National Security Agency (NSA). | A report by Australia's Fairfax Media says China stole "many terabytes of data" for the new aircraft, according to documents leaked by Edward Snowden, a former intelligence contractor who worked at the US National Security Agency (NSA). |
The report cites documents posted by German magazine Der Spiegel, which has access to NSA files leaked by Mr Snowden. | The report cites documents posted by German magazine Der Spiegel, which has access to NSA files leaked by Mr Snowden. |
In 2013, US newspaper The Washington Post said Chinese hackers had accessed sensitive documents about several US weapons projects, including the F-35. | In 2013, US newspaper The Washington Post said Chinese hackers had accessed sensitive documents about several US weapons projects, including the F-35. |
Fairfax Media says the latest documents detail the scale of the breach, indicating that Chinese cyber-spies acquired the designs for the F-35's radar, engine and exhaust cooling systems. | Fairfax Media says the latest documents detail the scale of the breach, indicating that Chinese cyber-spies acquired the designs for the F-35's radar, engine and exhaust cooling systems. |
The Australian government has ordered 72 of the new jets, with an option to increase the order to 100, in a deal worth billions of dollars. | The Australian government has ordered 72 of the new jets, with an option to increase the order to 100, in a deal worth billions of dollars. |
Ms Bishop told Sky News that the report "does highlight the challenges of cyber attacks". | Ms Bishop told Sky News that the report "does highlight the challenges of cyber attacks". |
However, she said, she was "confident that the United States has taken measures to ensure its intellectual property is protected". | However, she said, she was "confident that the United States has taken measures to ensure its intellectual property is protected". |
Mr Snowden leaked a vast tranche of information to the media in 2013, revealing the scale of internet and phone surveillance carried out by US intelligence agencies. | Mr Snowden leaked a vast tranche of information to the media in 2013, revealing the scale of internet and phone surveillance carried out by US intelligence agencies. |
He left the US, where he faces espionage charges, and currently lives in Russia. | He left the US, where he faces espionage charges, and currently lives in Russia. |
China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei has denounced the accusations as being "baseless". | |
"The materials disclosed by the relevant person showed that some countries do not have good records to talk about when it comes to cyber-attacks," he said. | |
"We hope that instead of pointing fingers at other countries for no reason and cooking up stories, they should demonstrate a cooperative attitude and work with us to guard against cyber-attacks." |
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