Russia's missile to ukraine used Western tech despite sanctions
The Oreshnik missile, which Russia launched toward Ukraine back in November, was constructed with the help of Western technology—at least according to findings by Financial Times journalists. The analysis reveals that Russian companies are still utilizing advanced Western production equipment.
The Russian medium-range ballistic missile Oreshnik, recently launched toward the city of Dnipro in Ukraine, was created using advanced Western production equipment despite existing sanctions.
Western technology in the Russian missile
Two key Russian military engineering institutes—the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology (MITT) and Sozvezdie—have been identified by Ukrainian intelligence as the creators of the Oreshnik. According to the Financial Times, in 2024, both institutes posted job listings that required knowledge of German and Japanese metal processing systems.
The job listings mentioned control systems from Fanuc (Japan), Siemens, and Heidenhain (both from Germany) for CNC machines, which are essential for missile production. Despite sanctions, the Financial Times analysis showed that in 2024, Heidenhain components worth at least $3 million made their way to Russia, and some purchasers were closely linked to military production.
Mysterious Russian missile
It's important to note that not long ago, Ukrainians reported finding parts in the remnants of the Oreshnik that were marked with numbers suggesting that the missile was built using components manufactured in April 2017. This may indicate that Russian claims about the modernity of this weapon are false.
Currently, detailed information about the parameters of the Oreshnik missile is still lacking. Assuming this technology aligns with the RS-26 system, the missile's launch weight may range from 88,000 to 110,000 pounds. These rockets can traverse distances up to 3,700 miles, and the standard equipment includes four warheads, each with a yield of 0.3 megatons.
