Restricted Western chips found in Russian weaponry, including from NXP

The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) has identified 80 export-controlled electronic components in 27 Russian military systems that were captured or recovered in the Ukraine. The findings indicate that Russia is critically dependent on foreign-made electronics and that Western sanctions aren’t airtight, the British think tank writes in a report.

In total over 450 Western components were found in the weapons, communications equipment and other systems. A large part of these devices were developed for civilian purposes, but 80 of them have been designated as ‘dual use’, meaning they can be used for both civil and military purposes. Their export is controlled through the Wassenaar List of Dual-Use Goods and Technologies.

Following the annexation of Crimea in 2014, the US and Europe imposed additional sanctions, which after the invasion of Ukraine have been expanded. In most cases, it’s not clear when Russia acquired the controlled components – many of them have been in production for years or even decades.