New secrets revealed about ‘invisible’ Russian plane captured by Ukraine

It was October 2024 when it was reported that an Su-57 fighter Russia shot down S-70 stealth combat drone who also belonged to the forces commanded by the Kremlin.

The events occurred near the town of Kostyantynivka, in the Donetsk region, east of Ukraine .

According to analysts consulted by the BBC SO, Russian troops likely lost control of drone due to interference caused by electronic warfare systems.

Faced with this situation, The Russian fighter is believed to have attempted to establish contact with the plane. .

However, given that both were flying over a Ukrainian air defense zone, it is presumed that He chose to try to destroy it to prevent it from ending up in the hands of the enemy. .

After the events, Neither Moscow nor Kyiv officially and immediately explained what happened .

However, despite the Su-57’s attempt to destroy it, Ukrainian military intelligence claims that They were able to analyze the remains of the ship .

In their expert reports, they ensure, They found electronic components made by Western companies .

This is a relevant point, since Russia has been the subject of multiple international sanctions since the start of its invasion of Ukrainian territory. on February 24, 2022.

During more than two and a half years of war, Economic and military aid programs from kyiv’s Western allies have been crucial so that his troops can counter the offensive.

According to a statement shared by the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) via Telegram , Several parts found in the S-70 were manufactured by companies in countries like the United States and Germany. .

SO, its use in armament Russia could mean the Kremlin has accessed military technology from Western companies, despite sanctions. .

The S-70 Okhotnik-B — also known as the Hunter-B — is a stealth combat drone developed by Sukhoi and MiG for the Russian Air Force.

It is generally classified as “invisible”, because it is very difficult to detect .

Its manufacturers claim that has “almost no analogy” in the world according to the aforementioned media.

Among its characteristics, it weighs more than 20 tons and, supposedly, It has a range of 6,000 kilometers .

The shape of the S-70 resembles that of an arrow which makes it resemble the American X-47B created by Northrop Grumman more than ten years ago.

It is stated that can carry bombs and rockets to attack ground and air targets while also being able to perform reconnaissance tasks.

One of the most notable points of the S-70 is that It is designed to work in conjunction with the latest generation Su-57. that is, the fighter who eventually shot him down in October near Kostyantynivka.

The first flight of this specimen took place in 2019 while it has been in development since around 2012.

According to the rescues BBC, In early 2024, it was reported that an S-70 had been sighted at Akhtubinsk airfield in southern Russia. .

That’s it one of the launch sites used to attack Ukraine .

However, Until the October episode, there was no evidence that it had been used as part of the invasion. on Ukrainian territory.

The GUR statement on the analysis of the S-70 accuses that “The aggressor state, despite sanctions, used components manufactured by Western companies to create this weapon” .

They detail that “microelectronics and other technological components were found manufactured by companies such as Analog Devices, Texas Instruments, Xilinx-AMD, Infineon Technologies and STMicroelectronics.

The first three companies mentioned are from the United States, while the fourth is from Germany. and the fifth is based in Switzerland.

Previously, after the October episode, it was also reported the discovery of the remains of a long-range D-30 glide bomb suggesting the drone may have been on an attack mission.

STMicroelectronics spokesperson Ronan Mulvaney told Military Blog The war zone that “ST is a manufacturer of embedded devices” that works “with more than 200,000 customers and thousands of partners around the world” .

But he emphasized: “We do not authorize or condone the use of our products outside of their intended purpose.”

According to Mulvaney, The company has “a comprehensive global trade compliance program to ensure that all participants in our supply chain comply with applicable regulations.

On the other hand, Infineon Technologies spokesperson Andre Tauber told the aforementioned media that “compliance with applicable laws is of the utmost importance to Infineon, and We have established robust policies and processes to comply with these laws “.

He commented that It is complex to control sales “over the life of a product”, knowing that the company produces around 30 billion chips. per year.

“Anyway, we have taken extensive measures at our disposal to ensure compliance with sanctions with the aim of respecting not only the letter, but also the spirit of the sanctions.”

According to a report by the UK-based research group, Research on conflict weapons (CAR), A short-range ballistic missile produced by North Korea and used by Russia against Ukraine in early 2024 included more than 290 foreign electronic components .

From the Semiconductor Industry Association of the United States (SIA) stated in October this year that “the semiconductor industry has billed more than 3 billion chips between 2021 and 2023” .

“These volumes will continue to increase as global demand for semiconductors increases, and Mature node chips have a lifespan of decades, so it is not surprising that some chips recovered from Russian weapons were manufactured well before the conflict began. “.

In their statement, they also stated that “Bad actors go to great lengths to circumvent government restrictions and compliance measures put in place by companies. evading even the most sophisticated detection and due diligence efforts.

At the end of the SIA statements, read the following :

“It’s about a difficult, complex and constantly evolving challenge that requires a sustained, concerted and multifaceted response . In this regard, we appreciate that the United States and other governments continue to express deep concern over transfers of Western semiconductors to Russia by third-country companies. We echo the call for all governments to take the necessary steps to reduce these illicit flows and ensure the smooth functioning of global semiconductor supply chains.

“SIA and our member companies have a clear vision of the geopolitical environment in which our industry must operate globally. AND We remain steadfast in our commitment to doing our part to prevent the illicit diversion of chips to Russia and other countries that support Russia’s war effort in Ukraine. in collaboration with governments, civil society and other stakeholders.