“Kommersant”: the Ministry of Industry and Trade suspects a daughter of “Rostec” in the issuance of Chinese antennas for their own

The Ministry of Industry and Trade sent materials to the Russian Investigative Committee about the facts of possible fraud by the Avtomatika concern (part of Rostec), which received a subsidy of 300 million rubles. for the development of antenna systems for satellite communications for transport, figured out “Kommersant”. The company, according to the department, actually passed off the complexes purchased in China as its development.

Back in June 2021, the ministry agreed with the concern to provide it with a subsidy from the budget to compensate for part of the costs of “creating a scientific and technical reserve for the development of technologies for the production of priority electronic components and radio-electronic equipment.” In total, until 2024, Avtomatika was to receive almost 401 million rubles in several tranches.

The agreement meant that the concern would independently develop hardware and software for devices that provide broadband access for the operation of satellite communication stations for cars, ships, trains and aircraft. With the help of such systems, passengers will be able to use high-speed Internet and stable communications established via Russian satellites. As the publication notes, such devices are now widely used in the military sphere, but their implementation in civilian transport was slowed down due to the complexity and high cost of production. In August last year, Rostec presented the entire line of antenna systems for satellite communications, the newspaper notes.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade, after checking, came to the conclusion that Avtomatika uses software purchased in China in the devices being developed, and there are no source codes for it from the concern. The components of the antenna systems are imported, which is contrary to the terms of the contract. The agency accuses the company of actually passing off antenna complexes purchased in China as its product. At the time of completion of the audit in May of this year, Avtomatika had already received 300 million rubles, subsequent tranches were suspended.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade confirmed the fact of the check to the publication, refusing to comment further. They also did not comment on the situation in Rostec and the UK. Avtomatika, according to the newspaper, does not agree with the accusations of the Ministry of Industry and Trade.