Washington, Jan 25: An Indian-born US Engineer, 66-year-old Noshir Gowadia has been given 32-year imprisonment over selling sensitive military technology to China.

Gowadia, who was arrested in Oct 2005, has been found guilty of passing on information which helped China to design a stealth cruise missile.

After the judgment, US attorney Ken Sorenson stated, "We're a little disappointed (the judge) didn't give him a life sentence, that's the sentence that would've sent the best message."

But he also added, "But 32 years is stiff and in many ways an appropriate sentence for him. He provided some of our country's most sensitive weapons-related designs to the Chinese government for money."

However, still holding the hope for justice, Gowadia's son claimed, "We believe very strongly that he's innocent, and we very much look forward to the appeals process in the 9th circuit."

Who is Noshir Gowadia?

Noshir for nearly decades from 1968 to 1986 served as an engineer with Northrop Grumman Corporation where he contributed a major role in developing the propulsion system and low observable capabilities of the Stealth bomber.

Gowadia also worked on classified projects as a contractor for the US Government until 1997 but during that time, his security clearance was terminated.

Prosecutors, during the trial, also alleged that Gowardia made repeated trips to China between 2003 and 2005 to provide defense services in the form of design, test support and test data analysis of technologies related to China's cruise missile programme.

OneIndia News