The Russian Ministry of Defense has incurred damages amounting to 130 million rubles because of the supply of defective aircraft parts for the Il-76 military transport aircraft, as reported by Izvestia.
Defective Parts Identified
According to Lenta the defective parts, identified as counterfeit bearings, were discovered after the planes had already been put into operation.
The investigation into this matter is shrouded in secrecy, with the Investigative Committee for the Moscow Region emphasizing that the details are not to be disseminated as it "contradicts the interests of the investigation."
The investigation is centered on unidentified individuals from the management of the Balashikha Foundry and Mechanical Plant (BLMZ). The plant has been recognized as an injured party in the case, while the Saratov Bearing Plant, which supplied the parts, is also under scrutiny for possible document violations.
The criminal case was initiated in July by the Investigative Committee of Russia, based on an inspection by the first prosecutor's office for supervision of compliance with laws at special security facilities. Investigators have seized documents from BLMZ, and its directors and founders are being questioned.
Low-Quality Bearings
From 2017 to 2022, employees at BLMZ allegedly purchased low-quality bearings that did not meet design specifications. These counterfeit parts were shipped to the Il branch with forged documents claiming military approval. The use of these parts led to the breakdown of five Il-76MD-90A aircraft.
Former Air Force commander Valery Gorbenko commented on the severity of the situation, noting that the damage is significant even if the parts were quickly replaced. He highlighted that five planes being disabled is a considerable loss.
The case has been opened under Article 201.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which deals with abuse of power in state defense orders. This rarely used article can result in a prison sentence ranging from 4 to 10 years, depending on the gravity of the crime and whether it was committed by an organized group.
