Western technology found in Russian weapons
British technology has been found in Russian weapons used against Ukraine, a new report has revealed.
Oscillators and crystals produced by Somerset-based Golledge Electronics have been built into Russian radars and missile systems.
The highly sophisticated components show that Moscow’s war machine is reliant on highly sophisticated Western technology, according to the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi).
Russia has lost so many cruise and ballistic missiles, electronic warfare equipment and specialist radios in Ukraine that ‘‘the degradation in Russian military capability could be made permanent if appropriate policies are implemented’’, the report says.
The Kremlin has also set up a ‘‘clandestine network’’ of spies to try and source replacements for the components, which it can no longer access because of sanctions, it adds.
The oscillators and crystals emit a precise electrical signal that can be used in computer chips and quartz watches.
Russia built them into its Torn-MDM, a truck-based system designed to intercept communications and radio signals, and the Tor-M2 rocket, which uses radar to detect targets.
The UK, as a member of the European Union, introduced a prohibition on the export of socalled ‘‘dual-use’’ goods for military purposes as part of a 2014 sanctions package against Moscow after the illegal annexation of Crimea.
However, a loophole, which was not closed by Brussels until after the outbreak of the conflict, allowed European businesses to continue sending items to Russia that could have military application as long as the importing firm promised it would not be used as such.
In February, days after the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine, the UK introduced a tougher ban on shipments to Russia of all products and technology – including microchips and semiconductors – that could have ‘‘dual use’’ to support its military.
The measure has been constantly tweaked by both the UK and EU throughout the war in order to widen the scope of products captured under the sanctions. Technical inspections by Rusi of 27 missiles and other equipment fired at or captured in Ukraine revealed 450 different kinds of unique foreign-made components. Inspections showed 317 components had been sourced from the US, the most from any single country.
Japan and Taiwan were the source of 34 and 30 pieces of kit respectively. Meanwhile, Britain was found to have supplied five highly sensitive components.
Close examination of a Russian Orlan-10 drone, used for identifying Ukrainian positions for subsequent strikes by artillery and other weapons, revealed the camera, produced by Sony, was mounted on a gimbal supplied by the US-firm Hextronik.
The drone’s flight control system is based on technology from Swiss firm STMicroelectronics, with the engine supplied by Japanese company Saito Seisakusho.
The radio used to communicate data to the Russian artillery brigade headquarters included components from US-based Analog Devices and Texas Instruments.
Other weapon systems were found to be similarly reliant on Western technology.
A secret unit called Line X, formed as part of the KGB during the Cold War, is thought to be behind efforts to avoid sanctions and source for Russia sensitive military equipment subject to tight export controls.
– Telegraph Group