Chinese hackers intruded Pentagon’s $300 billion project

The Pentagons’ most expensive weapons program known as the $300 billion Joint Strike Fighter project has been repeatedly attacked by the computer spies, reports the Wall Street Journal. Government officials familiar with the matter said that the intruders managed to copy and transfer data related to design and electronics systems, making it potentially easier to defend against the plane.

However, the hackers failed to access the most sensitive data as long as such information is being kept on the computers not connected to the Internet, the paper adds. The people aware of the situation say that the spies intruded through the vulnerabilities in the networks of two or three of the contractors involved in building the fighter jet. Lockheed Martin Corp is the lead contractor with Northrop Grumman Corp and BAE Systems PLC also participating in the program.

At the moment the Air Force is investigating the case. The identities of hackers and the size of the damage caused to the project were not established yet. But according to some former U.S. official, cited by the WSJ, the attacks seem to have come from China.