India Rejects NYT Report Alleging HAL’s Tech Supply To Russia, Calls It Misleading

India has rejected a report by The New York Times that alleged Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) supplied sensitive technology to a Russian arms agency, calling it factually incorrect and misleading. According to government sources, the Ministry of External Affairs emphasized that HAL has strictly adhered to all international obligations regarding strategic trade controls and end-user commitments.

"We have seen the report published by The New York Times, and it is misleading, distorting facts to fit a political narrative. The Indian entity mentioned has diligently followed all international obligations on strategic trade controls and end-user commitments. India's strong legal and regulatory framework on strategic trade continues to govern the overseas commercial activities of its companies. We expect reputed media houses to conduct basic due diligence before publishing such reports, which was clearly overlooked in this case," sources stated.

According to The New York Times, the Indian firm received equipment from the British aerospace manufacturer H.R. Smith Group and then allegedly shipped parts to Russia "with the same identifying product codes." The report, citing unspecified "documents," claimed that one of the largest corporate donors to the populist Reform UK party had supplied nearly $2 million worth of transmitters, cockpit equipment, antennas, and other sensitive technology to a major supplier of Moscow's sanctioned state weapons agency.

Between 2023 and 2024, the British aerospace company, a part of H.R. Smith Group, allegedly sent this equipment to an Indian firm identified as the leading trading partner of the Russian arms agency, the report claimed. In December 2023, the UK issued a 'red alert' to companies, warning about the risk of sensitive equipment being diverted to Russia through intermediaries.

The United States and most European nations have imposed sanctions on Russian entities following Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. However, India has consistently maintained that the conflict should be resolved through diplomacy. In 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited both Moscow and Kyiv, calling for an end to hostilities and advocating for peace.