Aircraft parts from UK, US routed through India to Russia skirting sanctions: Report

Boeing and other British companies are amongst more than 100 other western companies that have exported aircraft parts to India which were re-exported/transported to Russian buyers.

According to a report by The Guardian, an analysis of the data by the customs, has suggested that products worth Rs 433 crore ($50 million) have reached Russian airlines and their organisations through Indian intermediaries over a period of 21 months until September 2024.

Items including - sensors, propeller blades, critical generators and cockpit displays, filters, small screws and bolts - have been sent to Russia in 700 individual cargoes.

It looks like the western firms are not aware of the fact that their products are being sent to Russia by India.

According to The Guardian, there has been a ban on direct sale of aircraft products to Russia, its airlines and other entities by the United Kingdom (UK) and European Union (EU). The direct sale is also restricted by the United States (US).

Since February 2022, UK had put extensive sanctions including ban on export for aviation, directing companies to make sure that the end destination of aircraft products isn't Russian soil.

An analysis of the Indian customs data which was done by another publication and was accessed by The Guardian, suggested that about a dozen Indian firms acquired products from western companies which were later sent to Russian entities (buyers) between January 2023 and September 2024.

Over 60 cargoes containing products worth Rs 25 crore ($3 million) was sent to India's Shaurya Aeronautics by Step Aviation, which were sent to three Russian buyers.

In October 2023, the US had applied economic sanctions on Shaurya for transporting sensitive dual-use parts to Russia, in order 'to diminish and degrade Russia’s ability to equip its war machine'.

According to the publication's report, it appears that another company named ASL Aerospace had also sent 60 shipments from UK and US for 4 Indian entities which were exported to Russia.

One of the firms which had re-exported the shipments was Indian firm named Agrim Aviation which was put under sanctions by the US on November 1, 2023.

Bryan Poulier, Chief Executive of ASL Aerospace had said, "ASL Aerospace takes stringent measures in its supply chain to prevent such trade to sanctioned parties."

The data of the Indian customs suggests that American multinational corporation Boeing had sent 80 cargoes to India which were transported to Russia in parts or whole.

Most of these re-exports were done by Indian firm named Ascend Aviation, on which US had put economic sanctions on October 30, 2024, for involvement in 'sanctions evasion networks'.

According to The Guardian, a Boeing spokesperson said, "In March 2022, we suspended major operations in Russia, including providing parts, maintenance and technical support for customers."

The data analysis also revealed that Ascend Aviation also received 12 cargoes from Satair between September 2023 and May 2024 which were all sent to Russia for its airline named Aeroflot.