What Western components are found in new Russian drones used in attacks on Ukraine?

The Iranian Shahed kamikaze drones used by Russia in its drone terror attacks on Ukrainian cities are mostly made up of Western components, as a number of investigations and official data have shown.

In the “new” Russian-made Shahed-136/Geranium-2 drones, the only purely Russian component is the Kometa unit from the navigation system.

According to Ukrainian officials, although Russia is most likely already manufacturing the UAVs, the majority of the components are of foreign origin.

Majority of Russia’s drone components are of foreign origin

Ukrainian experts are working to fully identify the component base of the “new” Russian drones used in the most recent air attacks. The researchers are receiving both surviving and heavily damaged parts and wreckage of the Shahed-136 that Russian troops used to attack Ukraine.

European media reported last fall that Russia used Iranian kamikaze drones equipped with European components in recent attacks on Ukrainian cities. In particular, The Guardian reported this, citing a secret report that Ukraine sent to the G7 governments.

List of 52 Western components in the Shahed-131 drone

Thus, 52 electrical components from Western companies were found in the Shahed-131 drone and 57 in the Shahed-136 model.

The detected components were manufactured by several European companies (see table below). The manufacturers include firms headquartered in the United States, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany, Canada, and Japan.

The report stated that there is no confirmation of any violations by the Western companies whose components were used in Iranian UAV production. Iranian UAV production largely relies on readily available commercial components with poor or no control over their supply. Almost all imports to Iran come from Turkey, India, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and Costa Rica.

Iranian state-owned aircraft manufacturing company behind drone production

The Iranian state-owned aircraft manufacturing company Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company is behind the production of Shahed-131\136 attack drones, which Russia is using to shell Ukraine.

The Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine stated this, referring to an investigators’ analysis, as reported by the public media Suspilne. Experts have identified that the drones with the Russian marking “Geran” are indeed Iranian Shaheds.

Earlier, representatives of Ukraine’s air defense forces stated that Russia had launched mass production of Shahed UAVs. The Russians are modernizing the drones and producing hundreds of barrage munitions.

List of Western components in war drones that Russia uses against Ukraine

Ukraine’s public database tracks foreign components in Russian weaponry.

The War and Sanctions portal currently features a list of over 2000 components that Russia and Iran utilize in various missiles, UAVs, electronic warfare systems, and numerous other forms of weaponry and military technology.

Ukraine’s National Agency on Corruption Prevention has created the world’s first open global inventory detailing foreign components utilized in Russian and Iranian missiles, drones, electronic warfare systems, and other military equipment, the agency announced on December 7.

“Russian weapons are highly dependent on foreign components. It’s time to demilitarize the Russian Federation and stop the supply of components for the weaponry of the aggressor country”, NAZK statement reads.

War and Sanctions portal features a list of over 2000 components

The War and Sanctions portal currently features a list of over 2000 components that Russia and Iran utilize in various missiles, UAVs, electronic warfare systems, and numerous other forms of weaponry and military technology.

“Thousands of electronics intended for peaceful purposes become murder weapons in Russia and Iran’s hands,” agency head Oleksandr Novikov said.

“Exposing their path is a massive task, now aided by making this information public for journalists, officials, and all pursuing justice to investigate supply chains and accountability.”

The database resulted from extensive evidence gathering by various Ukrainian security, military, and police agencies, despite casualties and obstacles, the agency emphasized. Research teams, though targeted themselves, provide analytical support.

Need to prevent Russia from acquiring Western technologies

While Ukraine battles to repel Russian military assaults, the US and the EU must fight another battle to keep key combat drone components out of Russian hands.

However, denying Russia access to chips, electronics, semiconductors has been tough, and the West has not achieved a clear success. While Western sanctions have reduced Russia’s ability to manufacture weapons, the Russian regime continues to gain access to numerous technology components through sanctions evasion schemes via third countries.

While the United States and the European Union mobilize to provide Ukrainians with modern air defense systems to defend their cities from Russian air attacks, Moscow continues to bombard Ukraine using Western technologies.

Failure to prevent Russia from acquiring Western technologies for its drones means postponing Ukraine’s victory and bringing Putin’s war closer to the EU’s frontiers.