Delhi man jailed in US for illegal export of aviation parts to Russia

A 58-year-old Indian national, Sanjay Kaushik , has been sentenced to 30 months in a United States federal prison and will serve 36 months of supervised release after his prison term, for conspiring to illegally export controlled aviation components from Oregon to Russia in violation of US export control laws.

Federal prosecutors and the US Justice Department described the case as a deliberate, profit‑driven scheme that undermined safeguards central to American national security and foreign policy.

According to official court records, the scheme began in early September 2023 , when Kaushik conspired with others to obtain aerospace goods and technology from the United States under false pretences for Russian end users. The goods were purchased from an Oregon supplier on the claim that they were destined for Kaushik’s Indian company and would be used in civilian aircraft, when in reality the components were intended for clients in Russia.

One key item was an Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS) , a sensitive navigation and flight control device that provides critical data for aircraft operation. Because the AHRS has both civilian and military applications, it is subject to strict export controls and requires a licence from the US Department of Commerce to be shipped to Russia. To secure the licence, Kaushik and others falsely claimed that the Indian company was the final buyer and that the system would be used in a civilian helicopter. Ultimately the AHRS was detained before it could be exported from the United States .

US Attorney for the District of Oregon Scott E. Bradford said the scheme involved repeated transactions, substantial financial gain and coordination with foreign co‑conspirators, including sanctioned Russian entities, emphasising that it was not a mistake but a calculated criminal plot. Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg added that anyone who attempts to bypass export controls, especially where technologies have potential military applications , will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Kaushik was arrested in Miami, Florida, on October 17, 2024 , following a federal criminal complaint and arrest warrant. He has remained in custody since that date. On October 9, 2025 , he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to sell export‑controlled aviation components with dual civilian and military applications to Russian end users.

The US Justice Department noted that the case was handled by prosecutors from the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, with investigative support from the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security and other federal agencies.

Prior court filings revealed that Kaushik was part of an illicit procurement network involving intermediaries, including an Austria‑based associate, that attempted to funnel US‑origin aviation goods to Russia without required licences and with falsified documentation.The sentence reflects US authorities’ efforts to enforce export controls, especially in the context of ongoing sanctions and export restrictions that are part of broader policy responses to Russia’s actions in Ukraine.