Java HotSpot Virtual Machine

I know this is beating an old dead horse, but I find it frustrating that Java does not support unsigned types. I frequently work with binary file formats that store data in unsigned types. In Java there is no easy way to work with these files. For example, if the file has unsigned longs it is a problem. Also, if the file has unsigned ints, a very common occurrence, I have to "upcast" those numbers into longs. This is expensive from a time and space point of view since data files from satellites can be hundreds of megabytes or gigabytes in size and I have to double them in size just to capture the final bit. It is also inefficient to process these files because now I am using longs (64-bits) on systems that are usually optimized for 32-bits which means processing code takes a big performance hit.

Also, there is simple confusion. For example, if I provide data from a file to a user and they see "long" where they know they data is an int they start asking questions and I have to start explaining why it is a long instead of an int. Scientists don't like data to be "translated" for integrity reasons so I have make these long explanations how upconverting to a long is not really a translation, etc. It just creates a lot of confusion and problems.

Also, look at from a developer point of view. The developer has a spec in front of him listing the data types and is now reading the corresponding java class where the data gets loaded--all the data types are different because of the upconverting--it creates confusion.

Is there any hope of having unsigned types or we all condemned to a lifetime of upconverting?