A former University of Waterloo engineering student has pleaded guilty to terrorism-related charges in New York City.

Court documents show in 2006, Ramanan Mylvaganam tried to buy $22,000 worth of submarine design software for the Tamil Tigers.

The FBI also says Mylvaganam tried to buy night-vision equipment for the now-defeated Sri Lankan terrorist group from a company in British Columbia.

Mylvaganam could be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison.

He was extradited to the U.S. in 2009 after he was indicted in New York.

The Tamil Tigers waged a 26-year war for an independent homeland before they were defeated in 2009.

Both Canada and the U.S. have declared the group to be a terrorist organization.