Russian glide bombs leverage Western tech despite sanctions
Russian glide bombs, known as KAB, are posing a significant problem for Ukrainians and may operate based on Western electronics. The following details outline the Western electronic components identified by Ukrainians.
Despite imposed sanctions, Russia continues to find ways to import Western technologies essential for the production of glide bombs, according to a report by the NAKO (Independent Anti-Corruption Commission) titled "The Makers of Ruin: Glide Bombs, UMPK, and Their Civilian Cost".
KAB bombs are created by equipping old unguided FAB aircraft bombs with UMPK (Unified Planning and Correction Modules), mimicking the American JDAM-ER bombs. Unfortunately, they are highly effective weapons, capable of delivering several hundred kilograms of explosives with an accuracy of less than 10 yards. The initial versions of these bombs had a range of 40-45 miles, but new PD variants with larger wings can reportedly hit targets up to 55 miles away.
The electronics found in Russian bombs by NAKO
The most crucial components of the UMPK module are the Kometa guidance module and the control section for the bomb's control surfaces. Western components play a central role in the Kometa modules, responsible for guidance through GLONASS/GPS or Beidou systems.
For instance, ceramic antennas from the Irish company Taoglas are pivotal in capturing GPS signals, which are essential for determining position and time within the system. Additionally, FPGA systems from Altera, a part of Intel, act as the brain of the Kometa module, used for processing and filtering signals and controlling the entire system's functions.
It is noteworthy that receivers from the Swiss company u-blox enhance the quality of the received signal, while temperature sensors from the American company Analog Devices improve the module's stability under varying conditions. Overall, Ukrainians identified components from 10 companies in the USA, four in Switzerland, and two each in Ireland and Japan, not including components of Chinese origin.
Russians' access to key electronics
Despite being cut off from military-grade electronics, Russia retains access to civilian systems that can be repurposed for weapon production. There are instances of Russians dismantling household appliances for systems that could be used in this way, and some companies worldwide are still prepared to supply Russia with electronics at inflated prices. For example, some companies from Kazakhstan have been involved.
The situation is further complicated by the availability of many items on the open market, making trade restrictions challenging to enforce. Over 82% of identified electronics exporters to Russia are companies registered in China or Hong Kong. Sanction loopholes also add to the difficulty; among the 26 Russian entities analysed, only JSC Tactical Missiles is consistently on the sanctions list of all potential Western countries.
Ukraine is most effective in blocking exports to Russian firms, covering 85% of relevant companies. The USA is not far behind with a coverage of 73%. Switzerland and Germany have sanctioned 50% of companies linked to the production of UMPK modules, while the United Kingdom has only sanctioned 7%. It is likely that Russia, like Iran has done for years, will establish more new entities that initially do not fall under sanctions.
