Thales takes action, Safran silent on Russia bypass sanctions

In mid-September, the international intelligence community InformNapalm published an investigation alleging that Kazakh defense contractors are aiding Russia in circumventing international sanctions.

The report focuses on the maintenance of French avionics used in Russian Su-30SM fighter jets at Russian aviation repair facilities. Key players named in the report include Kazakhstan-based companies ARC Group and Aviaremont Plant No. 405, which are said to be working with Russian defense contractors such as Rosaviatspeckomplekt and Irkut Aviation Plant. French companies Thales and Safran were also implicated through their business links to Kazakh partners.

In response to the allegations, Thales provided a clear and transparent statement, confirming their compliance with international sanctions. “No equipment has been supplied to Aviaremont Plant No. 405 in Kazakhstan,” Thales said in their response, adding that while they had conducted some personnel training, no spare parts or repair services were provided. Thales also announced that they had suspended all contracts with the Kazakh plant and are considering legal action to terminate the agreement and seek damages.

Thales’ prompt and decisive actions were welcomed by analysts. Their compliance with international sanctions since 2014 and their swift response to the new evidence provided by InformNapalm reflect a high level of responsibility within the defense industry.

However, Safran, another French defense company named in the investigation, responded more vaguely. Although Safran claimed to have complied with the sanctions since 2014 and outlined their general export control procedures, they refused to provide specific details regarding their relationships with Kazakh entities. When asked about their ties to ARC Group, which has represented itself as Safran’s exclusive distributor in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, the company declined to clarify the nature of their relationship. “We do not wish to provide details regarding our dealings with specific countries or companies,” Safran’s response read.

Safran also avoided answering key questions about what measures they have taken to prevent the resale of their equipment to Russia through Kazakh intermediaries. This lack of transparency has raised concerns that the company may be unwittingly involved in efforts to bypass international sanctions.

Further suspicion arose when ARC Group’s website was taken offline approximately one week after the publication of InformNapalm’s investigation. Archived versions of the site show the company listing its partnership with Safran.

The contrasting responses from Thales and Safran underscore the need for ongoing scrutiny. While Thales has shown commendable leadership in handling the situation, Safran’s reluctance to provide clear answers raises questions about the extent of its involvement in Kazakhstan’s dealings with Russia. As Russia continues its war against Ukraine, ensuring that sanctions are fully enforced is critical to cutting off military support that enables Russia’s aggression.

Fighter jets like the Su-30SM play a direct role in Russia’s continued assaults on Ukraine, and any breaches in sanctions enforcement could have deadly consequences on the battlefield.

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