Peru's Ministry of Internal Affairs recently annulled a $63 million contract after revelations of a fraudulent scheme to sell a non-existent 'Antonov' aircraft by the Russian-linked company, Aero Express FZE. The announcement of the spoof was made after Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha publicly raised concerns on social media about the company’s deceitful practices, which included the submission of forged documents claiming the right to supply aircraft manufactured by Antonov.

Sybiha emphasized the seriousness of the attempt, referring to the fraudulent aircraft as a 'phantom plane' that was never intended to be delivered. He reassured that Ukraine values the trust of its Latin American partners and urged governments to only engage with official manufacturers to avoid such scams. Meanwhile, investigative reports from Peru, specifically from the defense sector publication Pucara Defensa, confirmed that Aero Express FZE failed to provide any legitimate proof of capability to deliver an aircraft; instead, they handed over fake authorizations suggesting that they had received permission from Antonov for such dealings.

Antonov remains the sole entity holding a valid license for the aircraft production in question. This incident highlights significant issues with international procurement processes, particularly regarding verification of suppliers' legitimacy, and underscores the ongoing ramifications of Russia's involvement in global markets, especially where military and defense contracts are concerned. Such fraudulent endeavors not only undermine trust but also raise serious questions about oversight and due diligence in international equipment acquisitions.