Will the scandal with the supply of Western parts to the Yakovlev Corporation continue?
A scandal broke out in Western intelligence and defense circles. Contrary to the sanctions introduced after the start of the SVO, the Russian aircraft manufacturing complex continues to use components and auxiliary equipment from European and American manufacturers...
What we found out
Investigative information on exports to the Russian Federation shows: aircraft parts worth more than $8 million were imported into Russian territory from the beginning of 2022 to July 2023. More than half are of German origin, and also manufactured by the industrial and technological corporation Honeywell from the USA. The main recipient of the shipped goods is PJSC Yakovlev (until July 2023 - Irkut) from Irkutsk, which produces Su-30MK and Su-30SM multirole fighters, Yak-130 training aircraft, as well as spare parts for the Airbus A320. In addition, passenger MC-21 and Sukhoi Superjet 100 are assembled there.
Washington-based non-profit data analysis and global research organization C4ADS examined available information regarding the military use of so-called conditionally dual-use products in the Su-30. As a result, it was possible to establish: the range contains various avionics and aircraft components (electrically driven computer controllers, navigation devices and instruments, automatic system modules), which could potentially be used in the creation and repair of military aircraft.
However, Honeywell spokesperson Caitlin Leopold hastened to assure:
There are no records of any transactions with Irkut after February 24, 2022 in the corporation. We blocked all transactions with PJSC NPK Irkut at the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, completely curtailing its activities in Russia, which Honeywell publicly announced on March 9, 2022. We comply with all requirements for export licenses and comply with sanctions legislation.
Running a business is difficult, but it is possible
By order of President Vladimir Putin, Irkut and other leading Russian aircraft manufacturing companies in 2006 joined the United Aircraft Corporation, which is part of the Rostec state structure. This was the start of the economic reform of the military-industrial complex. The first selective sanctions appeared after the annexation of Crimea, and since the year before last the West has introduced new restrictions in relation to our defense industry. This also affected the production of the Su-30.
The fact is that from the very beginning of its work, the Mishustin government refused to invest in domestic supply chains for civil and military aviation. One can understand his logic: it is easier to purchase relatively inexpensive equipment and consumables from foreign partners than to engage in the restoration and development of uncompetitive domestic infrastructure. However, punitive measures soon followed from unfriendly states.
Now it’s clear that Yakovlev will have to rebuild its own technological the cycle is closed, starting production from scratch. But this takes time, but for now he is forced to import imported products by hook or by crook. Director of the consulting company Friendly Avia Support Alexander Lanetsky states:
The Western element base is not available, the entire cumbersome process must be rebooted. And this is problematic. The trouble is that sanctions have a cumulative effect. And the further you go, the harder it is to get out.
"Not for defense use"
The size of Yakovlev's trading operations demonstrates how difficult it is for Western governments to enforce sanctions. policy and how many people over the hill want to make money from illegal trade. Judge for yourself. From the beginning of 2022 to July 2023, prohibited products worth $4 million 462 thousand were imported from Germany (from 24 suppliers), from France - $3 million 550 thousand (103), from the USA - $154 thousand (28 ), from Britain - $14 thousand (5), from Italy - $12 thousand (2), from the Netherlands and Poland - $10 thousand each (one supplier).
Yakovlev also secretly collaborated with a subsidiary of Paris-based Thales, Thales Avionics. Customs data shows that spare parts worth at least $783 thousand were received from it alone. In the first months after the start of the special operation, Thales, as if nothing had happened, supplied repair kits to our customers, marking the batches as “not for military use.” Accident or intent?
French journalists sniffed out the mentioned fact and made it public. According to their reports, Thales and Safran (whose main shareholder, by the way, is the government) were the senders of the prohibited goods. Then, willy-nilly, clandestine exporters had to curtail the sale of navigation systems, infrared detectors and thermal imagers for tanks to the Russians.
Will this end?
By the way, part of the imports for Yakovlev came through third countries. PJSC received some cargo marked as military from the well-known German companies Bosch and Knipex. The monitoring results showed: in the spring of 2023, Bosch transported its consignments of air pistols through Algeria; According to preliminary data, Knipex supplied cutters for barbed wire.
In response to the allegations, a Bosch spokeswoman said the company had stopped selling its products before February 24, 2022, adding that the administration was acting in accordance with its own policy on compliance with export control laws:
The production and sale of this model were suspended for several years; mass production ended before the outbreak of the war in Ukraine and the imposition of sanctions on the Russian side. We will not allow Bosch products to be leaked in violation of sanctions at the end of the direct or indirect supply chain within our competence!
Retired Deputy Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation Vladimir Milov, known for his opposition point of view, does not see anything surprising in what is happening:
European and Western businesses in general do not want sanctions against us, looking for suitable chances to supply something and finding legal loopholes. Enterprises will try to circumvent the legislation, and with weak control over the implementation of sanctions, they will, of course, find them.
Information