Hindustan Aeronautics Denies Reselling British Tech to Russia Amid Controversy
An Indian defense contractor, Hindustan Aeronautics, has firmly denied allegations regarding the resale of sensitive technology supplied by the British aerospace firm H.R. Smith Group to Russia. Reports from The New York Times suggest that H.R. Smith Group exported critical equipment, including transmitters and cockpit components, flagged as essential to Russian weapon systems.
Hindustan Aeronautics, India’s largest defense contractor and a key partner of the Russian arms agency Rosoboronexport, received the equipment as part of a lawful transaction. In response to the allegations, a lawyer for H.R. Smith stated that the equipment was utilized for Indian search-and-rescue operations and not for military applications. H.R. Smith’s lawyer, Nick Watson, emphasized that the parts were designed for lifesaving purposes.
However, shipping records indicated that some components were dispatched to Russia shortly after arriving in India, raising concerns over their potential military application. H.R. Smith maintained that product codes linking their equipment to that of Hindustan Aeronautics were too generalized to establish a direct connection.
H.R. Smith Group, which made a £100,000 donation to the populist Reform U.K. party shortly before Nigel Farage was named leader, asserted that its transactions were legal. The firm, operated by Richard Smith, resides in a notable Westminster townhouse frequented by influential right-wing policymakers. Farage declined comment on the sales, stating he disapproves of anything affiliated with Putin.
Britain and the U.S. have imposed restrictions on sales to Rosoboronexport; however, India has not enacted similar measures, allowing Western firms to conduct business with Indian defense companies under diligence regulations. With Hindustan Aeronautics publicly identified as a Russian military supplier but not under financial sanctions, the controversy continues to unfold.
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Photo credit www.nytimes.com
