AMD FPGA and Micron memory found in Russia's Iskander-1000 ballistic missile, Ukraine Intelligence claims — but stopping illegal trade is nearly impossible

Ukrainian intelligence claims that Russia's upgraded Iskander-1000 ballistic missile, which has been used in recent attacks, contains foreign-made components supplied by American companies. According to the Defense Intelligence (HUR), 63 out of 140 components in the missile are from American manufacturers, including Xilinx (part of AMD), Atmel (part of Micron Technology), DM&P Electronics, Winbond Electronics, and Analog Devices.

The intelligence report also identified components from Switzerland, Belarus, Germany, Taiwan, and China.

The missile's guidance system is particularly reliant on foreign technology, with only five of the 43 parts in a flight information processing unit connected to the missile's laser gyroscope being Russian-made. HUR states that only about one-quarter of the identified components were produced by Russian firms, despite efforts to replace foreign technology with domestic alternatives.

The presence of foreign components in a weapon system developed by Moscow highlights the continued use of international technology in Russia's weapon programs, even as the country attempts to reduce its dependence on outside sources. HUR lists 35 companies connected to the production network supporting Russia's Iskander-M missile family, with components originating from the United States, Switzerland, Belarus, Germany, Taiwan, and China.

While sanctions have limited access to some technologies, controlling the movement of advanced electronic components remains a challenge due to their common civilian uses and the ability of parts to pass through several countries before reaching their final destinations. Ukraine's intelligence service calls for stronger restrictions against companies, organizations, and facilities linked to Russia's missile production network, emphasizing the need for international cooperation to limit access to important technologies.