Western tech boosts Russian fighter capabilities amid Ukraine conflict
Euromaidan Press has shed light on alarming findings by Ukrainian intelligence. It was revealed that many imported components, notably electronic parts from American and Japanese companies, were discovered in Russian Su series fighters.
5:57 PM EDT, April 22, 2024
The report underscores the Russian defense industry's heavy reliance on foreign technologies, particularly for sophisticated weapon systems like fighters. Ukrainian intelligence has purportedly secured an exclusive list from military equipment suppliers in Russia, cataloging over 2,000 foreign electronic components integrated into the control systems of Russian Su series fighters, encompassing models like Su-27SM3, Su-30SM, Su-34, Su-35S, and the cutting-edge Su-57.
Western electronics in Russian military hardware
Journalists who have seen the list report that it features products from American corporations such as Texas Instruments and Analog Devices and the Japanese firm Murata Manufacturing. These manufacturers supply crucial electronic components for the aircraft's navigation, missile guidance, electronic warfare, and communication systems.
Valerii Romanenko, a Ukrainian aviation expert cited by Euromaidan Press, suggests that these Western electronics significantly enhance the capabilities of Russian fighters, enabling them to detect targets beyond 186 miles, track multiple targets automatically, and improve Russian pilots' situational awareness. Russia is alleged to have acquired these components through a vast network of intermediaries, including entities in Hungary, Cyprus, Turkey, China, and Russia itself, many of which evade Western sanctions.
Ahyia Zahrebelska of the Ukrainian National Agency for Corruption Prevention commented on Russia's resilience in the face of sanctions: "Russia is adapting to sanctions. Each time a company useful to Russia is sanctioned, ten more shell companies emerge to undertake the same functions." Russian opposition figure Prof. Vladimir Ponomariov echoed this sentiment in a WP Tech interview, remarking on the inefficacy of sanctions against Russia, noting that they hardly hinder Putin’s wartime activities.
Prof. Ponomariov noted that Russia encounters little difficulty in procuring components vital for the uninterrupted production of military equipment, mainly through smuggling from the West, with rising prices. He highlighted that everything essential for manufacturing modern weaponry for Putin's regime is smuggled from the West, accompanied by supplies from China and even outdated missiles from North Korea—which, despite their age, significantly bolster the arsenal.
