BRIDGEPORT, Connecticut (AP) ― A division of United Technologies Corp. pleaded guilty on Thursday to crimes related to the illegal export of software that U.S. officials say was used by China to develop the country’s first modern military attack helicopter.
The subsidiary, Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.; Hartford-based UTC; and another subsidiary along with UTC agreed to pay more than $75 million in fines in connection with the export violations and for providing misleading information to the U.S. government. The U.S. attorney for Connecticut, David Fein, said Pratt & Whitney Canada knowingly committed the violations because it wanted to become the exclusive supplier for a helicopter market in China with projected revenues of up to $2 billion.
“PWC exported controlled U.S. technology to China, knowing it would be used in the development of a military attack helicopter in violation of the U.S. arms embargo with China,” Fein said.
The prosecution is one of the largest resolutions of export violations with a major defense contractor in the Justice Department’s history, Fein said at a news conference after the court hearing. Authorities said the case sends a clear message that willful violators of U.S. arms control export regulations will be punished.
“As today’s case demonstrates, the Justice Department will spare no effort to hold accountable those who compromise U.S. national security for the sake of profits and then lie about it to the government,” Assistant Attorney General Lisa Monaco said.
