Russian SVR spies caught stealing Europe's Ariane Space Launcher top secret files

 

The Russian researcher spied on Europe's Ariane space launcher project- German intelligence caught him passing information on the space launcher vehicle to Russian spies. He was identified as Ilnur N. and was working as a research assistant for a science and technology professor at the University of Augsburg at the time of his arrest.

     He was recruited and handled by Russia’s SVR foreign intelligence service. The Russian spies were interested in the various development stages of the European Ariane launcher and wanted his research notes and files. He agreed to hand over all they wanted for $2,839 in cash.

     Ilnur N. handed over scientific articles to a Russian consulate employee in Munich on several occasions. Some of the articles were publicly accessible online but he retrieved most of the confidential files by using his university access point to load the items onto data sticks. The meetings to hand over the sticks took place in various burger and steak restaurants in Augsburg.

     This video The European Ariane Space Launcher Program details some of the technological mysteries of the program and why Russian spies recruited Ilnur N. to steal the top-secret files for them. 

Robert Morton is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO), enjoys writing about the U.S. Intelligence Community, and relishes traveling to the Florida Keys and Key West, the Bahamas and Caribbean. He combines both passions in his Corey Pearson- CIA Spymaster series. Check out his latest spy thriller: MISSION OF VENGEANCE.