• Military
• WMD

• Intelligence Menu               

• Systems
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Imagery
• Links

• Homeland Security
• Space

Canyon Anthony Amarys

Canyon Anthony Amarys, 28, of Alamogordo, New Mexico, was arrested on 28 October 2025 in connection with his indictment for the attempted violation of the Export Control Reform Act. The investigation began when Amarys allegedly made contact with a confidential informant who he believed had ties to the Russian government or intelligence services. Law enforcement introduced an undercover employee (UCE), posing as a Russian intelligence agent, into the communication.

According to the indictment, in February 2025, at an in-person meeting between Amarys and someone he believed to be a Russian intelligence agent, Amarys signed a one-page agreement in order to confirm his covert relationship with a Russian intelligence service. In addition, as part of that relationship, Amarys agreed to photograph a military installation on Fort Riley, Kansas, and to procure a Garmin GTR-205 helicopter radio for use by the Russian military.

The indictment and government press releases do not specify the exact kind of information in the photos Amarys took at Fort Riley. The publicly available documents only state that he took photographs of a U.S. military installation that he believed contained "sensitive military technology" and "military equipment." While the specific details and classification level of the photos have not been released to the public, the investigation confirmed that Amarys believed the photos contained information of value to a Russian intelligence service.

The photos Amarys took at Fort Riley contained images of U.S. military equipment, including Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopters parked on the tarmac, within an installation that he had been led to believe contained sensitive military technology. The indictment and news releases do not specify the exact classification level of the information in the photos.

The Garmin GTR 205 is a VHF COMM radio designed primarily for certified fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, offering a slimline form factor for easy panel upgrades and advanced communication features. It supports both 25 kHz and 8.33 kHz channel spacing for global compatibility, with a standard transmit power of 10 watts (optionally upgradable to 16 watts via software enablement). As of a software update in Q2 2025, it also includes optional integrated audio panel capabilities, transforming it into an all-in-one COMM radio and stereo intercom solution with features like a four-place intercom, individual volume controls, pilot isolation, dual-COMM switching, COMM playback (up to 150 seconds of recordings), and up to four AUX inputs (two with stereo pairing). This update is available for both new and existing units (software version 2.30 or later) through Garmin's flyGarmin.com or authorized dealers, though remote-mount variants are not compatible.

The sunlight-readable full-color LCD display showing active/standby frequencies and station IDs (e.g., "KOJC TWR"). Intuitive controls with dual concentric knobs, backlit keys, and single-touch swapping of frequencies. The GTR 205 is for certified aircraft, while the similar GTR 205x is tailored for experimental/amateur-built aircraft. Helicopter-specific versions differ mainly in backplate and mounting rack assemblies. Pricing information isn't directly listed on official or retailer pages, but it appears to run a bit less thatn $3,000, and is described as an "affordable" or "cost-effective" option for upgrades. User reviews from late 2025 note positive experiences with its build quality and features prior to installation.

The Garmin GTR 205 and the Orlan-85ST (also referred to as Orlan-85CT in some contexts) serve as VHF communication radios for civil aviation aircraft, with the former being a U.S.-manufactured product from Garmin and the latter a Russian-made transceiver from UMA Corp (often used as a replacement for older Baklan-series radios in Russian/Soviet-era aircraft). The Orlan-85ST emerges as the closest modern Russian counterpart based on its role in providing onboard VHF simplex voice communication for crews with ATC and other aircraft, similar to the GTR 205's primary function. While both operate in the standard aviation VHF band and support 8.33/25 kHz spacing for global compatibility, they differ significantly in design philosophy: the GTR 205 emphasizes compact, feature-rich integration for general aviation upgrades (including optional intercom and entertainment features), whereas the Orlan-85ST prioritizes robust power and reliability for larger transport aircraft and helicopters in harsher operational environments.

The GTR 205 is more compact, lightweight, and packed with modern pilot-friendly features like digital interfaces and Bluetooth, making it ideal for retrofits in smaller aircraft. In contrast, the Orlan-85ST offers higher transmit power and is built for durability in larger, more demanding Russian aviation operations, but lacks the advanced multimedia and automation features of the Garmin unit.

GTR 205 has a sunlight-readable full-color LCD with station IDs, dual knobs, and intuitive frequency swapping. Orlan-85ST uses a remote control unit (details sparse, but typically simpler LED/digital displays in Russian designs for reliability). GTR 205 includes worldwide database lookup, recent/favorite memory, and instant emergency tune. Orlan-85ST focuses on basic tuning with continuous 121.5 MHz monitoring and light/sound alerts. GTR 205 offers standby monitoring, 3D audio, Bluetooth for music/calls, equalizer, and optional integrated intercom (up to 4-place with playback). Orlan-85ST is primarily voice-focused with no mentioned multimedia or advanced audio processing; it's part of a basic transceiver setup.

GTR 205 has timers, NVG compatibility, and remote tuning with Garmin displays. Orlan-85ST includes damping frame for vibration resistance but no extras like timers or Bluetooth. GTR 205 is slim for easy panel upgrades, compatible with Garmin ecosystems and various audio panels. Orlan-85ST is bulkier, designed as a drop-in replacement for Baklan-20 in Russian aircraft, with a remote-mount option implied.

The GTR 205 is more advanced and user-centric for Western/general aviation markets, with lower power but superior integration and features, making it suitable for cost-effective upgrades in smaller aircraft. The Orlan-85ST, with its higher power and rugged build, is tailored for Russian civil and transport aviation, where reliability in extreme conditions (e.g., Siberian operations) trumps bells and whistles. Pricing isn't publicly detailed for either, but the GTR 205 is marketed as affordable for retrofits, while Orlan-85ST availability may be limited outside Russia due to sanctions and export restrictions as of 2025.

In March 2025, after purchasing the helicopter radio, Amarys traveled to Kansas in order to retrieve the radio and export it to a purported recipient in Romania. In doing so, Amarys communicated with a person he believed to be a Russian intelligence agent, and confirmed his understanding that the radio would in fact be illegally diverted to Russia.

The Export Control Reform Act (ECRA) applies to Canyon Anthony Amarys' case because he is charged with attempting to purchase and illegally export a controlled item, specifically a Garmin GTR-205 helicopter radio, for use by a Russian intelligence service and the Russian military. The Export Control Reform Act bars the unlicensed export of certain defense-related items considered "controlled technology," which included the Garmin GTR-205 helicopter radio he purchased.

The Garmin GTR-205 radio is an item subject to U.S. export controls under the Commerce Control List (CCL), meaning its sale or transfer to certain countries, like Russia, is restricted or requires a specific license. Illegal Export/Attempted Export: The ECRA prohibits the export, reexport, or in-country transfer of controlled items without the necessary authorization from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). Amarys allegedly attempted this without authorization.

Due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, there are strict U.S. sanctions and export controls on Russia, prohibiting the export of many U.S.-origin items to Russian military end-users and intelligence services. Amarys allegedly intended the radio for the Russian military. The indictment against Amarys specifically charges him with the attempted violation of the ECRA, a serious offense that can carry a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million upon conviction. The act aims to prevent U.S. goods and technology from falling into the hands of adversaries or being used against U.S. national security and foreign policy interests.

The Garmin GTR-205 helicopter radio is classified as a controlled item under U.S. export laws and regulations, falling under the purview of the ECRA and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). The law requires a license from the U.S. Department of Commerce for the legal export of such items. Amarys allegedly purchased the radio and attempted to export it to a recipient in Romania, with the confirmed understanding that it would be illegally diverted to Russia, a country subject to a U.S. arms embargo and other restrictions.

According to court documents, Amarys understood that shipping the radio abroad without a license was illegal and had even researched export regulations beforehand. Therefore, his actions in purchasing and attempting to export the controlled item to an adversary nation without the required authorization constituted an attempted violation of the ECRA.

Amarys packaged the radio and took it to a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) facility in Junction City, Kansas, with the intent of mailing it to a purported recipient in Romania, which he and the UCE had agreed was a cover destination for illegal diversion to Russia. Pursuant to a court-authorized search, investigators recovered the radio that Amarys had sought to illegally export to Russia. Throughout this period, communications (emails, text messages, and in-person meetings) were monitored and recorded, building a case of intent to violate the Export Control Reform Act. Once sufficient evidence was gathered regarding his intent to illegally export the controlled item, federal agents arrested Amarys.

Under U.S. export laws and regulations, the export of this controlled item without a license from the U.S. Department of Commerce was unlawful. Amarys understood that his shipment of the radio abroad was illegal, and told the person he believed to be a Russian intelligence agent that he had researched export regulations in anticipation of their meeting in February 2025.

The FBI recorded and observed him taking the photographs as part of the undercover operation, indicating law enforcement was aware of the content and the potential sensitivity but managed the situation. The charges brought against him (attempted violation of the Export Control Reform Act) relate more directly to the intent to provide information and material to an adversary and the illegal export of a controlled item, rather than the specific classification of the information in the photographs themselves.

The FBI Kansas City field office is investigating the case, with valuable assistance from the U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command, the Kansas National Guard, the Department of Commerce – Bureau of Industry and Security, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask of the District of Kansas and Trial Attorney David Ryan of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.