Chinese component found in Iranian drone used by Russia in Ukraine, investigators say

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Investigators say an Iranian-made drone used by Russia in Ukraine was found to contain a Chinese component.

The discovery by investigators from Conflict Armament Research, a UK-based organization that tracks arms supply chains, is also noteworthy because the Chinese component bore markings indicating it was produced in January.

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The use of a component manufactured in mid-January in an unmanned aerial vehicle shot down on April 22 indicates an extremely rapid turnover between the production and supply of components, the assembly of the drone and its eventual deployment in Ukraine, all of these processes taking place in just over three months, according to the investigators’ report, released on Monday.

National Security Council coordinator John Kirby told reporters on Monday he could not confirm the reports, although last week the NSC declassified additional information regarding Iran’s purchase of drones for to be used by Russia in Ukraine.

“We are also concerned that Russia is working with Iran to produce Iranian drones from inside Russia. We have information that Russia is receiving materials from Iran to build a drone manufacturing facility in Russia,” he told the Washington Examiner last week. “This plant could be fully operational early next year.”

The drones are built in Tehran, where they are then taken to Amirabad, Iran, before boarding a ship to cross the Caspian Sea. The drones are then moved from Makhachkala, Russia, either to Seshcha, which is near the Belarusian border, or to Primorsko-Akhtarsk, which is near Crimea.

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An Iranian drone that Russia launched last fall contained parts made by more than a dozen American and Western companies, prompting Western leaders to seek ways to prevent unsuspecting defense companies from helping without know Iran and Russia.

A spokeswoman for the National Security Council told the Washington Examiner in February that they are “evaluating what additional steps we can take in terms of export controls to restrict Iran’s access to technologies used in drones.” , while a group of federal agencies announced a new advisory last week for businesses. and other governments to ensure that they do not unwittingly help Russia target Ukraine.

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