35 US parts, a Chinese navigation unit, a Russian engine: what’s inside Russia’s Filin missile
Russia began firing the Filin at Ukraine in late summer. The firm that makes its onboard equipment also helps produce a Shahed-type drone.
On October 22nd, Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) released a 3D model and parts list of Russia's new Filin cruise missile. The breakdown highlights the components and foreign makers of its electronics, aiming to track these parts back to their sources. HUR's goal is to "deprive the aggressors of the ability to produce weapons for terror," as stated on its War&Sanctions portal.
Russia is focusing on developing cheap, fast cruise missiles, according to Serhii Beskrestnov, a freelance adviser to the president on technology. He believes these missiles will soon outpace Ukraine's jet-powered interceptors, prompting Ukraine to develop its own affordable missiles to counter them. The Filin missile, built by JSC NPO Molniya, a subsidiary of Russia’s Tactical Missiles Corporation, features a composite body and a ground launch system.
HUR identified 81 components in the Filin missile, with 35 American parts and 22 Chinese parts. The carbon and fiberglass fuselage measures 3.5 meters in length and has a 3-meter wingspan; some component parts are 3D-printed. The missile boasts a top speed of 800 km/h and a range of 600-1,200 km, flying at low altitude or up to 6 km. It can carry 50-kg or 100-kg warheads.
The missile's onboard equipment comes from PLAZ LLC, a firm linked to a Shahed-type drone. This equipment includes a Chinese-made inertial navigation system and a 16-channel anti-jamming module from Russia’s VNIIR-Progress. The 35 American components include ground launch systems from Reynolds LLC, and the solid-fuel booster propels the missile.
This composition makes the Filin missile similar to other Russian missiles and drones, but with a larger proportion of Chinese parts compared to other designs. Compared to Ukraine's Banderol missile, discovered with 20 foreign components in May 2025, including 10 US microchips, the Filin missile has a higher number of Chinese parts.
Written by urgent.news from Euromaidan Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
