JSF data breach – what will the impact be?
Earlier this week – it came to light that design specifications (computer files) for the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF)/F-35 Lightning II stored on a Pentagon contractor computer system – had been accessed and downloaded by hackers.
One story says that the contractor’s computers were compromised as early as 2007 – and the hackers continued to access these systems.
The thing about this story – is that it isn’t new. The original allegations that the program’s computers had been compromised was first run almost a year ago in May 2008. The contractor disputed the initial IG’s report with enough vigor that the IG withdrew the report last October.
It seems that Lockheed-Martin and BAE are downplaying the incident by saying that no “classified” data was compromised But if the attackers encrypted the data streams that were being removed – how can anyone be sure what exactly was or was not accessed.
The key question is – will this breach cause wholesale changes to the F-35 program?
The program already had to undergo a drastic weight loss program/redesign in 2004, and earlier this month it came out that another redesign was needed to deal with cooling issues late in the mission (Stealth aircraft can’t use drain holes and vents in the fuselage as they would compromise the Steathiness).
So who gains by the disclosure of this security breach;
- Aircraft makers who are trying to sell other 4.5 generation fighter aircraft (EADS, Sukhoi, Saab, Boeing) before the JSF is deployed
- Potential adversaries – who want to know all they can about this plane before they might have to face it in combat
It will be interesting to see what the overseas partners do (stay with the program, search for alternatives, or require design changes) after this disclosure.
But like everything else that deals with military technology – we the public may never know.
