A US federal court has sentenced a Delhi-based Indian businessman to 30 months in prison for conspiring to illegally export controlled aviation equipment to Russia, in violation of US export control laws.
According to the US Department of Justice (DoJ), 58-year-old Sanjay Kaushik orchestrated a scheme to procure and ship sensitive aviation navigation and flight control systems to Russian end users, bypassing safeguards tied to US national security and foreign policy.
The court sentenced Kaushik in Portland, Oregon, to 30 months of imprisonment followed by 36 months of supervised release. In its ruling, the court observed that Kaushik had “repeatedly attempted to undermine critical US national security protections for personal financial gain.”
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg said the case highlights how individuals attempting to evade US export restrictions on dual-use technologies—particularly those with military applications—will face strict prosecution.
Prosecutors stated that beginning in early 2023, Kaushik worked with foreign associates to unlawfully obtain US-origin aerospace goods and transfer them, through India, to sanctioned Russian entities.
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Fraudulent procurement of AHRS system
Court documents reveal that Kaushik and his co-conspirators acquired an Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS) from an Oregon-based supplier. The AHRS is a sophisticated device that provides aircraft with navigation and flight control data.
Such components require an export license from the US Department of Commerce before they can be legally shipped to certain countries, including Russia.
To obtain the system, Kaushik falsely declared that his India-based company was the end user and that the AHRS would be installed in a civilian helicopter. Investigators later determined that the real destination was Russia.
US authorities intercepted and detained the shipment before it could leave the country.
India used as a transit hub
The investigation found that the plan involved routing the equipment through India before transferring it to Russian customers with potential military links.
Federal prosecutors described it as an organized, profit-driven conspiracy that directly challenged US sanctions enforcement mechanisms.
“This was not a lapse in judgment, but a deliberate attempt to violate US export laws and supply restricted aviation technology to Russia,” the prosecution told the court.
Arrest and conviction
Kaushik was arrested in Miami, Florida, on October 17, 2024, under a federal warrant and remained in custody throughout the legal proceedings.
In October 2025, he pleaded guilty to charges of conspiring to sell export-controlled aviation parts with both civilian and military applications to Russian end users.
The judge, while delivering the sentence, called the offence “serious and intentional,” warning that such violations threaten international sanctions regimes and global security.
Focus on export law violation
Legal experts noted that the case is not linked to India-Russia trade relations, but rather to the strict enforcement of US export and sanctions laws.
The verdict reflects Washington’s continuing crackdown on attempts to funnel sensitive aviation and defense-related technology into Russia amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
About the author – Ayesha Aayat is a law student and contributor covering cybercrime, online frauds, and digital safety concerns. Her writing aims to raise awareness about evolving cyber threats and legal responses.
