A recent analysis of a downed Russian S-70 Okhotnik-B drone reveals that Western-made components continue to find their way into Russian military technology, despite extensive trade restrictions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. According to Ukrainian military intelligence (GUR), this unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), intended as an AI wingman to the Su-57 stealth fighter, contained at least 30 foreign-made chips, including those from U.S. companies like Marvell, Micron, and Texas Instruments.
The S-70, a stealthy, flying-wing drone design similar to the U.S. B-2 and F-117, is primarily used for reconnaissance but has the capacity to carry up to 2,000 pounds of munitions. Recently, a Russian jet downed the S-70 after it malfunctioned and veered towards Ukrainian territory. The wreckage, recovered 16 kilometers behind Ukrainian lines, provided insights into the technology Russia uses in its military hardware.
Ukraine’s GUR meticulously inspects captured Russian equipment, and its findings appear on the War Sanctions site, detailing Western technology found in Russian arms. In the S-70, these included transistors from Germany’s Infineon, microcontrollers from Texas Instruments, and microcircuits from Switzerland’s STMicroelectronics. Over 4,000 Western components have reportedly been identified in 147 distinct Russian weapons to date.
While companies cited in the report claim adherence to American sanctions, which restrict direct sales to Russia, the persistent presence of Western technology highlights a significant challenge. The global supply chain, with its numerous intermediaries, often includes willing buyers who reroute restricted components to Russia or other sanctioned nations.
In essence, this global economic structure both empowers countries like the U.S. to impose technology bans and creates avenues for bypassing them. The findings underscore the limitations of sanctions and reveal the ongoing struggle to prevent advanced technologies from reaching nations under trade restrictions.