Russia assembles weapons from foreign components of several manufacturers – CAR

Russian cruise missiles, guided missile launchers, and even attack helicopters are made of the same electronics. It is produced and supplied to Russia by several foreign companies.

Such conclusion was made by the Conflict Armament Research investigators. In July 2022, they visited Ukraine with a business trip and analyzed the components of Russian weapons.

Analysts studied the elements of the 3M14 (Kalibr), Kh-59, Kh-101 cruise missiles and 300mm 9M544 guided missile of Tornado multiple rocket launcher. In the receivers of the satellite signal of the navigation units of all these weapons, CAR investigators found identical circuit boards and electronics.

The same non-Russian components were found in the Baget-53 on-board computers of a Kh-101 cruise missile and the Ka-52 attack helicopter.

Analysts have come to the conclusion that the Russian defence industry is dependent on supply of a limited quantity of spare parts from European, US, and Asian companies. Thus, new or existing sanctions could restrict the Russian Federation’s ability to replenish the arsenals of the Russian Armed Forces.

CAR restrained to identify the manufacturers publicly until formal tracing requests have been issued, as per CAR’s methodology.

In general, CAR has already identified 144 manufacturers that supply Russian Federation with 650 unique components for the advanced weapons. Many of the components were manufactured after 2014, some of them in 2021, when a significant number of restrictions against the Russian Federation were already in effect.

Conflict Armament Research was established in 2011. The organization’s specialists collect evidence of arms deliveries to warring countries. CAR field investigation teams document the presence of weapons and investigate their supply routes.