Polish Firm's Dual-Use Fuel Pumps Found in Iranian Combat Drones

A Polish state-owned company sold parts used in Iranian combat drones, claimed Radio Zet. Polish prosecutors have been investigating the case since 2022. The components were reportedly dual-use and ended up in drones supplied to Russia. The former CEO and others face significant charges.

A Polish state-owned company sold parts which were used in Iranian combat drones, private broadcaster Radio Zet reported on Thursday without naming sources, adding that prosecutors had been investigating the issue since 2022. Iran has supplied thousands of Shahed-136 'kamikaze' drones to Russia during its invasion of Ukraine launched in February 2022. They have been used to exhaust Ukrainian air defenses and hit infrastructure far from the front lines.

Polish prosecutors confirmed in an email that they were investigating the possible export of dual-use products manufactured in Poland without mentioning Iran. Poland, a NATO member, has been one of Ukraine's biggest supporters, both under the previous nationalist government and Donald Tusk's current pro-European administration.

However, according to Radio Zet, a Polish company belonging to the Industrial Development Agency was selling fuel pumps which ended up in Iranian drones. According to Radio Zet, WSK Poznan sold parts to Iran Motorsazan Company, which produces agricultural tractors, but the pumps ended up in Iranian factories producing military unmanned aerial vehicles, which were then purchased by Russia.

It said the issue had been investigated by the Internal Security Agency (ABW) which notified the prosecution. In its emailed statement, the prosecutor's office said it was 'conducting proceedings regarding the export from Poland of products manufactured in Wytwornia Sprzetu Komunikacyjny Poznan sp. z o.o. being dual-use products without the legally required permit of the Minister of Development and Technology.'

As part of the ongoing investigation, the CEO of the company at the time was charged with selling products of strategic importance without appropriate clearance, it said, facing up to 10 years in prison. The ABW, Industrial Development Agency, State Assets Ministry, and the company did not immediately reply to Reuters' requests for comments.

(With inputs from agencies.)