A former US Navy intelligence officer has been sentenced to a year in federal prison for illegally exporting helicopter and military aircraft parts for a convicted arms dealer, US authorities said.

George Budenz, 61, had pleaded guilty in October 2006 to exporting military items without a license from the US government. US Judge Larry Burns also ordered Budenz to pay a US$10,000-dollar (RM38,000) fine in the sentencing on Monday in San Diego, California.

Budenz had admitted helping to ship engine parts for Chinook helicopters, for F-5 fighter jets and for other military aircraft without authorization to Malaysia on behalf of a convicted arms dealer from Pakistan, Arif Ali Durrani.

In an earlier trial in March, Budenz testified against Durrani, who was sentenced last month to 12 and a half years in prison.