During WWII the US intelegent services (G-2) had a mission to gather a copy of every enemy aircraft varient. This included German, Japanese, and Italian aircraft. The aircraft on display in the Air Force Museum (Me 262 for example) are aircraft that were returned to the U S for evaluation. It is no coincedence that the Bell X-5 looks like a German proto-type.
The U.S. paid a Korean Mig pilot $Million to defect with a Mig 15, Remember?
Then there was the Mig 25 that was flown to Japan by a defector. The U.S. moved in, dismantled the aircraft, packed it up, and shipped it to a U.S. facility (Gaum or Okinawa maybe). The Japanese are still smarting about that one.
Does anyone remember the origin of the B-57, or the AV-8 Harrier?
The point is that any country is goint to put a good idea to work if it is to their advantage. This is especially true in times of war. To this day there is very little respect for the world agreements regarding patents, and copyrights for that matter.
I submit to you all that we will regret the free flow of technology to other countries, especially those that do not honor patents or protections of intelectual property.
The next time you open a model look at the information telling you where it was made, no matter what the brand name is on the box. Then look at the price!
Sorry for the rant. I hope someone finds it pertinent to the discussion, and pertinent to the general subject of the forum.
rangerj
afterthought!
Look at the Soviet copy of the B-29, or their "Space Shuttle".