I believe it
Secrecy doesn't mean they don't have anything. Breakthroughs in fuel/engine technology - any technology for that matter - must be closely guarded. If they do not yet have safeguards in place (patents, etc.) to protect their innovation from thieves - and there are plenty of them - they would naturally not want to be specific about it. Has no one making these accusations ever heard of Apple? Or Microsoft? Just to name a few.