A Delhi-based businessman, Sanjay Kaushik, 58, has been handed a 30-month sentence in US federal prison for a serious offense: attempting to illegally export controlled aviation components to Russia. This isn’t just a simple customs violation; it’s a scheme that authorities say deliberately bypassed critical US export control laws designed to protect national security.
Kaushik’s elaborate plan involved trying to ship sensitive aviation technology, including an “Attitude and Heading Reference System” (AHRS) – a vital piece for aircraft navigation and flight control – from Oregon to Russian end-users. To pull this off, he made false claims, stating the components were for his Indian company and intended for civilian use. In reality, the goal was to route these parts through India and then directly to customers in Russia, some of whom were sanctioned entities.
US officials, including the Justice Department’s National Security Division, highlighted the gravity of the situation. Assistant Attorney General John A. Eisenberg emphasized that such attempts to circumvent export controls, especially involving technologies with potential military applications, will be met with the full force of the law. US Attorney Scott E. Bradford called it a “calculated, profit-driven scheme” involving “substantial gains” and coordination with foreign co-conspirators.
Thankfully, the AHRS component was intercepted before it could leave the United States. Kaushik was arrested in Florida in October 2024 and has been in custody since. He later pleaded guilty, admitting his role in conspiring to sell these dual-use (civilian and military) aviation components to Russia. His sentence also includes three years of supervised release. This case serves as a stern warning: attempts to undermine national security through illicit trade will not be tolerated.
