Western tech found in Russian bombs sparks alarm in Ukraine
Russian KAB glide bombs, which pose a significant problem for Ukrainians, may operate based on Western electronics. Here are the Western electronic components identified by Ukrainians.
Despite imposed sanctions, Russia still finds ways to import Western technologies crucial for the production of glide bombs, according to a report by the "The Makers of Ruin: Glide Bombs, UMPK, and Their Civilian Cost" prepared by NAKO (Independent Anti-Corruption Commission).
KAB bombs, created by equipping outdated unguided FAB air bombs with UMPK (Unified Module Set for Planning and Correction) modules, are essentially a copy of the American JDAM-ER bombs. Unfortunately, they are highly effective weapons, as they can deliver several hundred pounds of explosive payload with an accuracy of under 33 feet. The initial versions of these bombs had a range of 37-43 miles, but new PD variants with larger wings reportedly target distances of up to 56 miles.
Electronics found by NAKO in Russian bombs
The most important components of the UMPK module are the Kometa guidance module and the control section for the bomb's control surfaces. Western components form the core of Kometa modules, responsible for guidance using GLONASS/GPS or Beidou systems.
These include ceramic antennas from the Irish company Taoglas, which play a crucial role in intercepting GPS signals and form the basis for determining position and time in the system. Additionally, there are FPGA chips from Altera, owned by Intel, functioning as the brain of the Kometa module, processing and filtering signals, and controlling the entire system's functions.
Notably, receivers from the Swiss company u-blox are used to improve the quality of the received signal, and temperature sensors from the American company Analog Devices enhance the stability of the module's operation under various conditions. Overall, Ukrainians identified 10 components from US companies, four from Switzerland, and two each from Ireland and Japan, not including components of Chinese origin.
Russian access to key electronics
Despite being cut off from military electronics, Russia still has access to civilian systems suitable for use in weapon production. Russians have resorted to dismantling household appliances containing circuits that can be repurposed, and there are still companies worldwide willing to supply Russia with electronics at a premium. For example, companies from Kazakhstan have been identified as suppliers.
The situation is complicated by the availability of many items on the open market, making it extremely difficult to block their sale. More than 82 percent of identified electronics exporters to Russia are companies registered in China or Hong Kong. Additionally, there are sanction loopholes: out of 26 Russian entities associated with the production of KABs, only JSC Tactical Missiles is on the sanction list of all potential Western countries.
Ukraine has been the most successful in blocking exports to Russian firms, covering 85 percent of the companies, while the USA follows closely with 73 percent. Switzerland and Germany have sanctioned 50 percent of firms associated with UMPK module production, while the UK has only sanctioned 7 percent. It is likely that Russia, much like Iran has done for years, will create more new entities that do not initially appear to fall under sanctions.
