Almost all of Russia’s modern military systems depend on Western-manufactured microelectronics, the report says.
Highlights
• US and western made microchips are used in Russian missiles. Most Russian drones use western-made microelectronics
• A report published by a London-based think tank argues Russia illicitly imports electronic equipment for its war effort.
• The report urges western nations to tighten export channels to Russia to cripple its war effort.
•Russia has so far used illicit channels to procure western equipment, it says.
A report from the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi) says the Russian military depends heavily on the west for electronic equipment. Western nations can hamper Russia’s war efforts by tightening their exports to Russia, it argues. Till now Moscow has found some loop whole to bypass western sanctions. If western nations close these loopholes, they can seriously affect Russia’s military.
US-Made Chips in Russian Military Equipment
Researchers at Rusi spent months studying some of Russia’s most modern military systems. Ukrainian forces had either brought them down, captured them, or found them abandoned. They discovered at least 450 foreign-made components, mostly made in the US and other western countries. Microchips from Texas and Sony corporations were also found.
Researchers, however, don’t suggest that these corporations were complicit in supplying the Russian war machine.
There is Still Chance to Stop the Russians: Researcher
According to Jack Watling, a senior researcher at the institute, there is still a chance to halt the Russian machine. If Western nations deny Russia the use of such equipment, this may affect Russia.
“ If these components can be denied then the Russians will not be able to replenish the arsenal of equipment that they have expended in Ukraine,” Dr Watling says.
Russia’s heavy reliance on artillery, rockets and missiles has flattened cities. This has also enabled Russian troops to make slow, incremental gains in Ukraine. “The Russian system of fighting is heavily dependent on what’s called reconnaissance strike: finding your targets and hitting them with overwhelming firepower. And what we found is that every link in that chain is dependent on western components,” Dr Watling argues.
Russian Drones Use Western-made Microelectronics
Russia has extensively used battlefield drones that scout out Ukrainian locations. After that Russian artillery bombards enemy positions. Almost all of these drones use imported microelectronics, cameras and communications systems. Both Russia and Ukraine have extensively used drones during the Ukraine war. While Ukraine has used Turkish-made Bakhtyar TB2 drones, Russia has used Orlan 10 drones. According to Dr Watling, Russia started the war with thousands of these. These drones have cameras and can also carry small bombs. Russia has also bought Shahid military drones from Iran.
For long-range missiles to be accurate, they must have western-made microchips fitted to them, says Dr Watling.
And Russia has found ways to procure them. A clandestine network had always existed since the Soviet era. Operated by Soviet officers, it uses intermediate hubs like Hong Kong and Malaysia. Also, some of the companies selling their products to intermediaries have no idea who the final user would be. Others, Dr Watling says, don’t ask too many questions.
The researchers believe that time is running out to prevent the Russians from setting up new channels supplying their military. In order to cut off this “silicon pipeline,” the west must tighten export controls before it’s too late. Russia is scrambling to buy whatever it can before the net closes. “ the time to act is now”, the report concludes.
(inputs BBC)
