HONOLULU -- A Maui man charged with selling secrets of the B-2 stealth bomber pleaded not guilty Wednesday and his family repeated their claim that the entire case is a misunderstanding.

Noshir Gowadia is a former defense engineer, who helped develop the propulsion system for the B-2 bomber. He's charged with selling some the jet's secret technology to foreign governments.

His family said all those governments were allies of the United States.

"The family believes strongly that this is a terrible misunderstanding about Noshir Gowadia's consulting work," defense attorney K. Chris Todd said.

Defense attorneys Gowadia is suffering in detention from a genetic blood disease and they hope to win his release on bail.

The case could take longer than usual because of its complexity and the need for all attorneys to get government security clearances, prosecutors said.