India has unleashed a blistering counterattack on The New York Times for a report tying Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to Russia’s sanctioned arms agency Rosoboronexport via a British aerospace firm, slamming it as “factually incorrect” and “misleading.”
Official sources on Monday accused the outlet of peddling a distorted narrative, asserting that the story—claiming HAL rerouted sensitive UK equipment—lacked due diligence and reeked of political bias.
The NYT report alleged that H.R. Smith Group, a British aerospace player and Reform U.K. donor, shipped $2 million in transmitters, cockpit gear, and antennas to HAL between 2023 and 2024. It suggested these parts, bearing identical product codes, quickly reached Rosoboronexport, Moscow’s blacklisted weapons supplier.
Official sources fired back, insisting, “The Indian entity mentioned has scrupulously followed all its international obligations on strategic trade controls and end-user commitments.” They underscored India’s “robust legal and regulatory framework,” dismissing the report as a sloppy attempt to “frame issues and distort facts to suit a political narrative.”
HAL, a linchpin in India’s defense sector with deep ties to Russia—evidenced by a ₹26,000 crore Sukhoi engine deal in 2024—maintains its exports align with global norms. The NYT conceded its “records do not prove” the parts landed in Russia, yet pointed to timing overlaps.
H.R. Smith countered that its sales were lawful, destined for India’s search-and-rescue network, not military use, per a company lawyer quoted in the report. A Reform Party spokesman labeled the story a “woeful attempt to smear Reform.”
India’s rebuttal, echoed by sources to The Hindu, demanded “basic due diligence” from “reputed media outlets,” a standard they claim NYT flouted. The clash highlights India’s sensitivity to its neutral stance in the Russia-Ukraine war, balancing Moscow ties with Western partnerships like the U.S.’s $3 billion GE engine deal.
As HAL gears up for self-reliance under “Make in India,” this salvo against NYT signals New Delhi’s defiance against what it sees as a Western media hit job, with stakes high in global defense credibility.