SU30Leaks saga continues: Thales responds openly, Safran dodges specific questions

InformNapalm reported the information.

In mid-September, InformNapalm reported on Kazakh defense contractors aiding Russia in circumventing sanctions by servicing French avionics for Su-30SM jets at Russian facilities, involving ARC Group and Aircraft Repair Plant No. 405. The report mentioned French companies Thales and Safran, and responses from these companies regarding their potential involvement differed significantly.

Thales: proactive and transparent

InformNapalm highlights the swift and decisive actions of Thales. The company not only confirmed its compliance with international sanctions since 2014, but also actively responded to specific data published by InformNapalm. This responsible stance sets a positive example for other players in the defense industry, especially given the geopolitical sensitivity of the situation.

Thales responded to the inquiry, stating that their equipment was not supplied to ARZ 405 in Kazakhstan. While Thales confirmed that they trained some staff, they emphasized that no repair work or spare parts were provided to the Kazakh side. Additionally, they have suspended all contracts with the Kazakh plant and are considering legal action to terminate the agreement and potentially seek damages.

Safran: vague and formal

In contrast, Safran's response to InformNapalm's inquiries was much more evasive, according to the agency. While they assured of their compliance with sanctions since 2014 and outlined general export control procedures, they refused to provide any details about connections with organizations servicing their components in Kazakhstan, stating only that they "do not wish to go into any details regarding countries or companies."

Safran stated they have stopped direct military supplies to Russia due to sanctions, but their response left key questions unanswered. They did not clarify their relationship with ARC Group, a Kazakh company claiming to be their exclusive distributor, raising concerns about the extent of collaboration and whether Safran is aware of ARC Group's actions. Additionally, Safran failed to specify what measures were taken to prevent their equipment from being resold to Russia. This reluctance to clarify raises suspicions about Safran's involvement in circumventing sanctions, warranting further investigation.

InformNapalm notes that at the time of writing this note, the ARC Group website was closed to public access, which occurred about a week after the investigation was published.

(But a copy of it is available in the web archives, which demonstrates their stated cooperation with Safran.)

Need for constant monitoring

InformNapalm concludes that while Thales demonstrated a "commendable level of responsibility," Safran's vague responses only heighten concerns. Further investigation is necessary to ensure that there are no loopholes in the sanctions regime that Russia could exploit to sustain its military industry. It is important to remember that Su-30 fighters are used daily to kill Ukrainian soldiers and civilians during Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.