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Professor Anatoly Gubanov, 63, is suspected of passing highly classified hypersonic aircraft design data to the West. The prominent physicist is being held by Russia’s counterintelligence service, the FSB, in Moscow and faces jail for between 12 and 20 years if convicted.
“According to the investigation, Gubanov submitted classified data on the development of aircraft abroad,” a law enforcement source was quoted as saying Daily Mail, Friday (4/12/2020).
It is known that the leading scientist has worked with Western experts on an international project called Hexafly-Int which aims to develop a high-speed passenger aircraft that runs on hydrogen fuel.
This venture involved specialists from the UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy and Australia.
But Russian newspaper Kommersant reported sources close to the father of five as saying his main interest was in a promising missile design, which is not yet in military service.
He has made some undisclosed scientific developments in this area, and the report indicates the allegations against him related to his work.
Gubanov was known as a supersonic solid rocket engine. (Also read: Russia to Operate S-500 Missile System ‘The F-35 Killer’ Next Year)
“He has signed an agreement not to divulge details of any technological breakthroughs to foreign powers but the FSB believes he is ‘breaching’ this obligation,” said the Kommersant report.
Another Russian news agency, Interfax, said the professor was suspected of passing information consisting of state secrets abroad or taking other actions aimed at Russian security for the benefit of the state, organization or foreign representatives.
A closed court inside Lefortovo prison ordered Gubanov to be detained until February.
All that is speculation but there is no confirmation that the case might involve Putin’s Kinzhal – or Dagger – a valuable nuclear-capable hypersonic missile capable of flying ten times the speed of sound.
Gubanov’s legal representative declined to comment further.
Gubanov came from a dynasty of scientists including his father-in-law Professor Leonid Shkadov, a leading Soviet aircraft designer. (Also read: Russia deploys S-300 missile system on disputed island near Japan)
The detained man works at the Zhukovsky Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute (TsAGI), but is also linked to several universities including the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT).
Her two daughters and one son – all physicists – also work at TsAGI.
Gulbanov’s arrest is the latest of a number of Russian scientists and officials detained in what critics call a ‘spy mania’.
Gulbanov’s co-workers told Interfax they were “shocked” by the arrest of a man who was respected by his students.
Last month, high-level treason charges were also filed against Dmitry Fedotkin (39), a senior Aeroflot official in the UK.
He is suspected of providing information of a classified nature to British intelligence services although sources say he does not have access to classified material.
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