More than 450 foreign-made components were found in Russian weapons found in Ukraine, providing strong evidence that Russia acquired important technology from companies in the US, Europe and Asia years before the invasion, Royal United said in a report on Monday. RUSI), a defense-related think tank.
Since the start of the war five months ago, the Ukrainian military has been seizing or returning undamaged or partially damaged Russian weapons from the battlefield. After dismantling, 27 of these weapons and military systems, from cruise missiles to air defense systems, turned out to be predominantly Western components, the most detailed assessment published to date of the role of Western components in Russia’s war against Ukraine. .
According to RUSI, about two-thirds of the components were manufactured by US companies based on weapons seized from Ukraine. The products of Analog Devices and American Texas Instruments account for almost a quarter of all Western weapons components. Other components were supplied by companies from countries such as Japan, South Korea, the UK, Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands.
“Russian weapons, which are critically dependent on Western electronics, have resulted in the deaths of thousands of Ukrainians,” Jack Watling, RUSI’s ground warfare expert, told Reuters.
While many foreign components are found in everyday items such as microwave ovens that are not subject to export controls, RUSI assured that tightening export restrictions and enforcement could make it difficult for Russia to replenish your arsenal of weapons such as cruise missiles.
In one case, the Russian 9M727 cruise missile, one of the country’s most advanced weapons capable of maneuvering at low altitude, evading radar and hitting targets hundreds of kilometers away, contained 31 foreign components. The parts were made by companies including US-based Texas Instruments and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), as well as Cypress Semiconductor, now owned by Germany’s Infineon AG.
In another case, the Russian Kh-101 cruise missile that was used to attack Ukrainian cities, including the capital Kyiv, also had 31 foreign components, with parts made by companies such as US-based Intel Corporation and AMD Xilinx.
When asked how their chips ended up in Russian weapons, the companies assured that they were complying with trade sanctions and stopped selling components to Russia. Analog Devices noted that the company closed its business in Russia and instructed distributors to stop deliveries to the country. Texas Instruments said it complies with all laws of the countries in which it operates and that parts found in Russian weapons are for commercial products. Intel stated that it “does not support or condone our products being used to violate human rights.” Infineon has expressed “deep concern” if its products are used for purposes for which they were not intended. AMD has stated that it strictly follows all worldwide export control laws.
Many foreign components cost only a few euros, and Russian companies could have purchased them online through national or international distributors before the invasion of Ukraine because they could be used for non-military purposes.
However, more than 80 Western-made microchips have been subject to U.S. export controls since at least 2014, meaning they would need a license to ship to Russia, RUSI reported. for the Russian military or for military use, according to RUSI.
The investigation revealed that the Russian military remains dependent on foreign microchips for everything from tactical radios to drones and long-range precision-guided munitions, and that Western governments have been slow to restrict Russia’s access to these technologies, especially after the invasion of Russia. President Vladimir Putin in 2014.
According to the National Security and Defense Council, in the first five months of the war, Russian troops fired more than 3,650 missiles. These include 9M727 and Kh-101 missiles. Currently, Russia is looking for new ways to provide access to Western chips, condemned RUSI. Many components are sold through distributors operating in Asia, such as Hong Kong, which acts as a gateway for electronic components entering the Russian military or companies acting on its behalf, RUSI has found, ensuring that the Russian military is constantly undermined. if Western governments tighten export controls, succeed in shutting down clandestine procurement networks in the country, and prevent the production of sensitive components in states that support Russia.