For the first time, a component made in India has been found in a Russian weapon system, according to Ukraine’s military intelligence.
Indian-Made Part Detected for the First Time in Russian Weapon
The announcement came on April 7, when Ukraine’s intelligence agency confirmed the discovery through a detailed investigation of Russian weaponry. The Indian-made part is a “clock buffer” manufactured by Aura Semiconductor, a company based in India. This is the first documented instance of an Indian component being identified inside a Russian military device.
This discovery is part of a broader analysis where nearly 200 new components were found in six different types of Russian weapons. These components include parts used in drones, missiles, and other reconnaissance systems. The use of such diverse parts from multiple countries shows how Russia continues to source components from nations that are not participating in international sanctions.
Key Parts Found Across Russian Weapons
The investigation conducted by Ukraine’s military intelligence revealed a wide variety of newly identified parts inside Russian weapons. These parts were found in the following systems:
- A CRP antenna used in the Russian-modified Shahed drone, an Iranian-designed loitering munition that Russia now manufactures under the name Geran-2.
- North Korea’s KN-24 ballistic missile, which Russia appears to have either modified or used for technology transfer.
- The onboard computer system of the X-47 Kinzhal missile, which is a hypersonic missile used by Russia.
- Multiple reconnaissance and combat drones, including the Supercam S350, Gerbera, and Zala.
The Shahed-136 drone, which Russia now calls the Geran-2, is widely used in attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, cities, and frontline positions. These drones are designed to loiter in the air and strike at chosen targets, making them very effective in Russia’s warfare strategy.
According to the findings, only two American-made chips remain in the current version of the CRP antenna in the Geran-2 drone. This is a significant drop compared to older versions, which had more American components. Russia has clearly moved towards using components from countries that are not enforcing strict trade restrictions.
In earlier versions of the drone, a majority of the antenna parts—13 out of 15—were labeled as Chinese-made. These included important signal processing chips from the Beijing Microelectronics Technology Institute, showing China’s increasing role in supplying technology to Russia’s defense industry.
India’s Trade Links with Russia Under Focus
India has historically been one of the top importers of Russian arms, and Russia has served as a major supplier to India for decades. However, in recent years, due to changing global dynamics and pressure from international sanctions, India has started to diversify its defense imports and strengthen partnerships with Western countries.
At the same time, India has not imposed sanctions on Russia and has continued trading with Moscow, especially in sectors like oil, defense, and electronics. While India has publicly called for peaceful dialogue and a diplomatic solution to the war in Ukraine, it continues to engage with Russia economically.
The identification of the Indian-made clock buffer in a Russian weapon marks a significant moment. It reflects how global supply chains and technology transfers can play out in unexpected ways, especially during conflict. Even if countries are not directly involved in a war, components manufactured there may still find their way into systems used in active combat.
Russia’s closest strategic and military partner remains China. Both countries have conducted joint military exercises and maintain strong cooperation with countries like Belarus and Iran. China has also become one of the top suppliers of dual-use goods, meaning items that can be used for both civilian and military purposes, which are feeding Russia’s defense production lines.
This report sheds light on the global web of component sourcing for modern warfare. From Asian manufacturers to European and American firms, many of the technologies found in weapons today are built using parts sourced from across the globe—even from countries not directly involved in the conflict.