Engineer Pleads Guilty to Massive U.S. Missile Data Theft

Chenguang Gong, a dual U.S.-China citizen and former engineer at a Southern California defense contractor, pleaded guilty to stealing over 3,600 files containing sensitive U.S. military trade secrets, including blueprints for advanced missile detection and countermeasure systems. He transferred the proprietary data to personal storage devices between March and April 2023, just before being fired, and some files were later recovered at his residence. The stolen information is valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars and supports technologies critical for detecting nuclear, ballistic, and hypersonic missiles, as well as protecting fighter jets from heat-seeking threats. Prosecutors said Gong had applied to Chinese government 'Talent Programs' focused on recruiting experts for the PRC’s military and technological efforts, often proposing projects based on U.S. defense technologies. Gong is currently free on a $1.75 million bond and faces up to 10 years in federal prison when sentenced on September 29. The case highlights persistent risks of industrial espionage and foreign recruitment targeting U.S. defense innovation.