2024-04-20 23:06:06
As Rob Norton points out, political and governmental decisions often lead to unexpected outcomes, a well-known but often overlooked phenomenon.
In the military field, this dynamic is particularly evident, as a recent report by Euromaidan Press on the use of Western components in Russian combat aviation showed.
This investigation revealed that more than 2,000 imported parts, including from the United States, Ukraine’s main military ally, have been integrated into the Su series fighter aircraft.
These fighters are a key part of Vladimir Putin’s long-running “special military operation” against Ukraine, signaling a worrying interconnection between Western economies and Russia’s war effort.
Implications of US components in Russian fighters
The report highlights that Ukrainian journalists, in collaboration with the Non-Governmental Anti-Corruption Commission, identified the widespread use of components from companies such as Texas Instruments and Analog Devices of the US, and Murata Manufacturing of Japan, in the manufacture of the fighters. .
Affected models include the Su-27SM3 “Flanker”, the Su-30SM Flanker-C/G/H, the Su-34 “Fullback”, the Su-35S “Flanker-E”, and the -advanced fighter stealth Su. -57 “Bandits” of the fifth generation.
Curiously, Mikoyan-Gurevich (MiG) fighters do not appear on the list of aircraft incorporating US technology, suggesting the selective use of imported components. In addition, the report details the arsenal deployed by these Sukhoi fighters, including KAB-500 and KAB-1500 bombs, and guided missiles such as the Kh-59 and Kh-69, indicating increase in offensive air capacity.
This situation illustrates a paradox in which US military suppliers, through global supply chains, may inadvertently strengthen a hostile power.
The discovery of a third American company involved in these supplies shows the extent and complexity of this unwitting collaboration. The case raises urgent questions regarding surveillance and export control in the context of international conflicts.
American technology in Russian and Iranian military equipment
Su-27
Let’s start with the tech giant most recognizable among US consumers: “Texas Instruments. According to a recent report, components of this company have been identified in Russian military equipment and in Iranian drones. “Texas Instruments stood out for the use of its parts in Russian electronic warfare systems and Shahed drones, which were examined after they were shot down over Ukraine,” the author of the analysis emphasized.
Based in Dallas, Texas, and founded in 1951 by Cecil H. Green, J. Erik Jonsson, Eugene McDermott and Patrick E. Haggerty, Texas Instruments is one of the world leaders in semiconductors, serving more than 100,000 customers and with 45,000 patents worldwide. until 2016.
The less visible role of Analog Devices in electronic warfare
Krasukha-4
Although less well known than Texas Instruments, Analog Devices’ contribution to Russian military technology is just as important. Founded in 1965 by MIT graduates Ray Stata and Matthew Lorber, this company is headquartered in Wilmington, Massachusetts.
The report indicates that Analog Devices components are critical in Russia’s Krasukha-4 jamming station, a key piece in its electronic warfare arsenal.
“This team was involved in operations including jamming drone control channels and satellite signals,” the document states.
Xilinx: a brand that disappears, but leaves behind a technological legacy
Su-35
The name Xilinx, although it is no longer officially active after being acquired by AMD in October 2020, is still relevant. Founded in 1984 by Ross Freeman, Bernard Vonderschmitt and James V Barnett II in Silicon Valley and headquartered in San Jose, California, this semiconductor company had a global presence, including offices in Ireland, Singapore, India, China , Australia, Japan and Armenia, the former Soviet Republic and Russia’s CSTO ally.
From Euromaidan Press in February 2023, it is reported that Xilinx chips are used in Khibiny electronic countermeasures on Russian fighter bombers. It has yet to be determined whether the US companies involved will suffer consequences from the US government.
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