Scandal worth 300 million: they tried to pass off Chinese satellite dishes as Russian
The Ministry of Industry and Trade sent materials to the Investigative Committee of Russia about possible fraud on the part of JSC Concern Avtomatika, a member of the Rostec state corporation, when allocating a subsidy. The Ministry intends to achieve the return of 300 million allocated for the development of satellite communications.
The correspondent reports about this "PolitNavigator", Kommersant reports, citing its sources.
The agreement between the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Avtomatika concern was concluded on June 15, 2021. Until 2024, as part of the implementation of the project “Creation of a line of antenna systems for satellite communication stations,” the concern was to receive a subsidy in the amount of 400 million 746 thousand rubles in several tranches.
Under the terms of the agreement, Avtomatika undertook to independently develop hardware and software for products that provide broadband access for the operation of satellite communication stations on mobile objects - in cars, trains, water and air transport.
“In October 2021, the executive director of the Rostec state corporation, Oleg Yevtushenko, announced that a sample of the antenna system was already undergoing trial operation on one of the long-distance passenger railway cars. According to him, when creating antenna systems, advanced technical solutions were used to significantly expand the capabilities of satellite communication systems in transport,” the article notes.
In August 2022, Rostec presented its entire line of satellite communication antenna systems, and this year it was planned to organize mass production of the complexes.
However, an inspection carried out by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, which, according to the publication, ended in May 2023, established that “the products being developed use software purchased in China, the source codes for which Avtomatika does not have, and the components of the antenna systems are imported, which contradicts the terms of the agreement."
At the time of the end of the inspection, the Ministry of Industry and Trade managed to transfer about 300 million rubles to Avtomatika. The newspaper notes that the materials submitted to the Investigative Committee say that “for its development, the Avtomatika concern actually gave away antenna systems purchased in China.”
At the same time, the Avtomatika concern does not agree with the conclusions of the visiting commission and is not going to voluntarily return the 300 million already received.
The ICR did not comment on the situation; they refused to discuss the claims of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and Rostec, where they stated that development work to create a line of satellite communication antenna systems for moving objects is proceeding in accordance with the schedule approved by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, including using imported components, which is permissible under the relevant agreement.
“Currently, the stage of work on the production of mock-ups and prototypes of products with the replacement of imported components with domestic ones is underway in accordance with the schedule approved by the Avtomatika concern for the import substitution of components with the subsequent assignment of TORP status [telecommunication equipment of Russian origin] in 2025.” ,” Rostec clarified.
English version :: Read in English Scandal worth 300 million: they tried to pass off Chinese satellite dishes as Russian