More than 450 foreign-made components were found in Russian weapons seized in Ukraine, according to a new report by the world’s oldest think tank, suggesting that Moscow acquired important technology from companies in the US, Europe and Asia in the years before the invasion. Military and security think tank the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) was consulted exclusively by Reuters. The American company claims that elements of Russian weapons were developed for commercial production.

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Since the beginning of the war five months ago, the Ukrainian military captured or took out intact or partially damaged Russian weapons from the battlefield.

After disassembling 27 of those weapons and military systems, from cruise missiles to air defense systems, they were found to be based mostly on Western components, according to the study, which was shared exclusively with Reuters news agency.

This is the most detailed assessment published today of the role of Western components in Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Most of the components are produced by American companies

About two-thirds of the components were made by American companies, RUSI found, based on weapons seized in Ukraine.

The products of American Analog Devices and Texas Instruments accounted for almost a quarter of all Western components in Russian weapons used on the Ukrainian front.

Other components came from companies in countries such as Japan, South Korea, Great Britain, Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands.

“Russian weapons, which are critically dependent on Western electronics, have killed thousands of Ukrainians,” Jack Watling, a military affairs specialist at RUSI, told Reuters.

While many foreign components are found in household goods, such as microwave ovens, that are not subject to export controls, RUSI notes that increased export restrictions and enforcement could make it more difficult to rebuild Russia’s weapons arsenal, such as cruise missiles.

What do the missiles used by Russia contain?

In one case, the Russian 9M727 cruise missile, one of Russia’s most advanced weapons that can fly at low altitudes to avoid radar and can hit targets hundreds of kilometers away, contained at least 31 foreign components.

RUSI’s investigation found that the parts were manufactured by companies including US-based Texas Instruments Inc and Advanced Micro Devices Inc, as well as Cypress Semiconductor, which is now owned by Germany’s Infineon AG.

In another case, the Russian X-101 cruise missile used to strike Ukrainian cities, including the capital Kyiv, also had 31 foreign components, parts made by companies including US-based Intel Corporation and AMD-owned Xilinx.

What do the companies say about how their components ended up in the weapons of the Russians

In response to questions about how their chips ended up in Russian weapons, the companies said they were complying with trade sanctions and had stopped selling components to Russia.

Analog Devices said the company has ceased operations in Russia and ordered distributors to stop shipping to the country.

Texas Instruments has said it complies with all laws in the countries it operates in, and the components found in the Russian weapons were designed for commercial production.

Intel said it “does not support or condone the use of our products to violate human rights.”

Infineon said it was “deeply concerned” if its products were being used for purposes for which they were not intended. AMD said it strictly complies with all global export control laws.

How much do western components cost?

Many foreign components cost only a few dollars, and Russian companies could buy them online before the invasion of Ukraine through national or international distributors because they could be used in non-military devices.

However, more than 80 Western-made microchips have been subject to US export controls since at least 2014, meaning they needed a license to send them to Russia, RUSI reported.

According to RUSI, the companies that exported the parts were responsible for ensuring that they were not sent to the Russian military or for military use.

The Russian army depends on Western microchips

The investigation’s findings show that the Russian military remains dependent on foreign microchips for everything from tactical radios to drones and long-range precision munitions, and that Western governments have been slow to limit Russia’s access to these technologies, especially since President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Crimea. in 2014.

The war between Russia and Ukraine, which began on February 24, has left thousands dead, displaced millions and devastated several cities. Russia’s overwhelming firepower, including the use of cruise and ballistic missiles, has helped its forces break through eastern Ukraine and occupy about a fifth of the country.

According to the NSDC General Staff, during the first five months of the war, Russian forces fired more than 3,650 rockets and guided missiles.

Among them are 9M727 and Kh-101 missiles. Russian missiles have been used to strike targets including rail lines to shut down western supply lines, military infrastructure and civilian targets such as shopping malls and hospitals. Russia said it fired only at military targets. The Russian authorities did not comment on this article.

The US is trying to block Russia’s access to vital components

After the invasion of Ukraine, the United States announced sweeping sanctions to try to weaken Russia’s economy and military. Among them is a ban on the sale of many sensitive microchips to Russia.

Countries in Europe, as well as Japan, Taiwan and South Korea – all key chip makers – have announced similar restrictions.

According to RUSI, Russia is currently working on finding new ways to provide access to Western microchips. According to RUSI, many of the components are sold through distributors operating in Asia, such as Hong Kong, which act as a gateway for electronics going to the Russian military or companies acting on its behalf.

The Russian government did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment on the investigation.

Russia started buying microchips even before the invasion

In March 2021, the US government said that Russian firms were buying electronics for the Russian military. Russian customs records show the company imported $600,000 worth of electronics made by Texas Instruments through a distributor in Hong Kong, RUSI reported.

Seven months later, the same company imported $1.1 million worth of microelectronics manufactured by Xilinx, according to RUSI.

Texas Instruments and AMD-owned Xilinx did not respond to a Reuters request for customs data.

Russia’s military could be permanently weakened if Western governments tighten export controls, manage to close down the country’s clandestine procurement networks and disrupt the production of sensitive components in states that support Russia, the world’s oldest think tank has concluded. Institute of services.

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