Indian components were found in Russian Shahed drones: Ukraine report
A report by Ukrainian defence officials said that it found Indian made components inside Russian Shahed drones. Ukrainian officials have raised the issue with both New Delhi and the EU.
Kyiv has found Indian made components in drones used by Russia to attack Ukraine, an official said on Tuesday. Andriy Yermak, presidential chief of staff, said that the drones obtained from Iran were used to attack the front lines and civilians.
Ukraine has formally raised the concerns with the Indian government and the European Union over the electronic components found in the drones. The country also said that it has sent at least two diplomatic notes to India’s external affairs ministry since last year.
The components were found in the Shahed 136 unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAV) since last year. The issue was brought up with Ukrainian diplomats when EU Sanctions envoy David O’Sullivan travelled to New Delhi in July.
Who made the components in the Shahed drones?
The Ukrainian authorities have established that the electronic components were from Vishay Intertechnology and Aura Semiconductor and were either assembled or made in India. The electric part “bridge rectifier E300359” were used by Russia in the production of the Shahed drones for its voltage regulator unit. Aura Semiconductor made a PLL-based signal generator AU5426A chip, which was used in the jammer-proof antenna for the drone’s satellite navigation system, the Hindustan Times reported.
The response
External Affairs Minister Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal commented on the matter, saying, “India’s exports of dual-use items are in keeping with its international obligations on non-proliferation, and based on its robust domestic legal and regulatory framework. Due diligence is conducted to ensure that such exports do not violate any of our laws.”
"The exports of dual-use items are in keeping with its international obligations on non-proliferation and based on its robust domestic legal and regulatory framework. Due diligence is conducted to ensure that such exports do not violate any of our laws," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal was quoted as saying by HT.
In a statement, Aura Semiconductor Co said, “We are deeply disturbed by the possibility that any of our components may have reached defence manufacturers through unauthorised third-party channels, in violation of our stated compliance framework and distribution agreements. We strongly oppose such activity and are committed to taking action wherever compliance gaps are identified.”
Kishore Ganti, co-founder of Aura Semiconductor Pvt Ltd, the Bengaluru-based subsidiary of Ningbo Aura Semiconductor Co, said the firm ensures its products are used lawfully and ethically, and fully complies with all applicable national and international export control laws.
Ganti said that it was difficult to trace the end users of their product due to the components 'plug-and-play' aspect, making it usable without dependence on Aura.
There were also unverified statements made about how electronic components sold to West Asia were being diverted to Russia or Iran.
According to Ukraine’s security service, or the SBU, Iran had supplied at least 2000 of the inexpensive Shahed drones to Russia, which later made its own assembly system using Iranian ready-made parts. Data from Ukraine’s air force also says that Russia launched 6,129 Shahed-type drones in July.
The Ukrainian defence directorate also said that the electric components from firms in the US and China have also been found in Russian drones and weapons.
According to Ajay Srivastava, founder of the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), the components may have been diverted by foreign buyers to Iran through third countries.“India strictly prohibits the export of dual-use items to sanctioned destinations. However, once such goods are exported to legitimate third countries, tracing their end use becomes nearly impossible, a challenge every open economy faces,” he said
Defence