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UK Halts High-Tech Exports to Armenia Amid Concerns of Russian Military Links
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
The British government has suspended the export of advanced industrial machinery to an Armenian company following an investigation into the firm’s connections to the Russian defense industry.
According to The Guardian on February 28, 2026, the Department for Business and Trade is reviewing a previous “No Licence Required” determination for equipment that could be used to manufacture components for missiles and drones.
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The Cheshire-based company Cygnet Texkimp was prepared to ship two machines designed to produce carbon fiber “prepreg.” This material is a critical component in both civilian aerospace and military hardware due to its high strength and low weight.
While UK officials initially told the company last year that no special export license was necessary, Trade Minister Chris Bryant has now put the deal “on ice.” As reported by The Guardian, the decision to reopen the license application stems from the potential for the equipment to be diverted to the Russian military supply chain.
The intervention followed a report by The Guardian highlighting the background of the Armenian client, Rydena LLC. The company was established two years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine by former executives of Umatex.
Umatex is a Kremlin-owned entity that serves as a primary supplier of carbon fiber for the Russian military. According to The Guardian, experts have warned that Rydena’s leadership has past involvement in the Kremlin’s military supply chain, raising concerns that the UK-made hardware could be used to circumvent international sanctions.
Trade Minister Chris Bryant confirmed the government’s shift in a letter to Liam Byrne, chair of the House of Commons business committee. Bryant stated:
“We are currently reviewing an earlier determination that the export was not subject to licence as the goods were not considered to be controlled.”
He further noted that after consultations with the manufacturer, the government determined that “some elements of the production equipment should be considered as subject to dual-use controls.”
Cygnet Texkimp maintained that it has acted transparently throughout the process. In a statement provided to The Guardian, a spokesperson for the company said:
“At the outset of this order, we proactively engaged with the relevant UK authorities and voluntarily submitted an application for an export licence because we recognised that certain elements of the equipment… could potentially be categorised as ‘dual use’.”
The company added that it acknowledges the government’s decision to review its earlier guidance and will await the outcome of the process.
Earlier, Armenia began purchasing Indian-made weapons systems, including Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers and Swathi counter-battery radars, as part of efforts to reduce its reliance on Russia and diversify defense partnerships.
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