SOURCE: AFI
Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) has uncovered a significant development in the ongoing analysis of Russian weaponry used in the conflict: an Indian-made component, specifically a clock buffer from Bengaluru-based multinational fabless semiconductor company Aura Semiconductor, has been identified in a Russian weapon system. This marks the first recorded instance of an Indian-origin part being found in Moscow’s arsenal, raising questions about global supply chains and Russia’s efforts to adapt under Western sanctions.
“For the first time, a component made in India — a clock buffer from Aura Semiconductor — was found in a Russian weapon,” HUR announced in a Telegram post on April 7. The discovery is part of a broader investigation that identified nearly 200 new parts and components across six types of Russian weapon systems, highlighting Moscow’s strategic pivot away from U.S.-made technology. As sanctions tighten, Russia appears to be increasingly reliant on alternative sources, with a notable uptick in Chinese components alongside this unexpected Indian find.
The HUR report details the specific weapons in which these components were found: a CRP antenna in the Iranian-designed Shahed drone (known as Geran-2 in Russia), a North Korean KN-24 ballistic missile, the onboard computer of the Kh-47 Kinzhal hypersonic missile, and several drones including the Supercam S350, Gerbera, and Zala. These systems have been deployed extensively in Russia’s military operations against Ukraine, targeting civilian infrastructure, energy facilities, and military positions.
The inclusion of an Aura Semiconductor clock buffer—a critical electronic component used to manage timing signals in complex systems—points to the intricate and often opaque nature of global supply chains. Aura Semiconductor, headquartered in Bengaluru, is a fabless semiconductor firm known for designing high-performance analog and mixed-signal chips for applications ranging from telecommunications to aerospace. While there is no evidence to suggest direct involvement by the company or the Indian government in supplying Russia, the finding underscores how dual-use technologies can inadvertently end up in military hardware through third-party channels.
Russia’s shift away from U.S.-made parts is a clear response to sanctions imposed by Western nations following its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Previously, Russian weapons like the Shahed drone relied heavily on American electronics, but recent analyses show a drastic reduction in such components. In their place, Chinese-made parts dominate, with transceivers, signal converters, and microchips from firms like the Beijing Microelectronics Technology Institute appearing in increasing numbers. The Indian clock buffer, alongside two other unidentified components suspected to be of Chinese origin, suggests Moscow is casting a wider net to sustain its war machine.
The discovery has geopolitical implications, particularly for India, which has maintained a delicate balance in its foreign policy. A long-standing partner of Russia in defense and trade, India has also deepened ties with the West in recent years, aligning with the U.S. and Europe on technology and security initiatives. The presence of an Indian component in Russian weaponry could complicate this balancing act, even if unintentional. It also highlights the challenges of controlling the flow of dual-Use technology in a globalized economy, where components designed for civilian purposes can find their way into military applications.
For Ukraine, the finding is part of a broader effort to document and expose the foreign components fueling Russia’s aggression. HUR’s ongoing analysis aims to pressure sanctioning nations to tighten export controls and disrupt Moscow’s supply lines. The Shahed drones, for instance, have become a staple of Russia’s long-range attacks, with their jamming-resistant antennas now showing a mix of Chinese and, newly, Indian parts. Similarly, the Kh-47 Kinzhal missile—a hypersonic weapon touted by Russia as unstoppable—relies on an onboard computer incorporating this diverse array of components.
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