US search for US microchips in Russian military equipment

FBI agents working with the US Department of Commerce have begun an investigation into US computer microchips found on Russian military equipment used in hostilities in Ukraine. These are Western components found “on Russian radar, unmanned aerial vehicles, tanks and ground control equipment and coastal vessels, according to people familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity,” writes The Washington Post.

“Federal agents have begun investigating US technology companies over how their computer chips ended up in Russian military equipment recovered in Ukraine,” the US newspaper said.

The newspaper notes that “for years it was legal for companies to sell basic computer chips to Russian military entities without first obtaining permission from the US government, so tracking illegal sales requires determining the type of chip and the date of sale.” He also acknowledged that “tracking transactions can also be painful, as electronic components often pass through a chain of distributors before reaching the end user”.

According to the Conflict Armament Research (CAR) report, the researchers found spare parts for 70 different companies based in the United States and Europe in Russian military equipment.

Many microchips were built before the United States imposed severe export restrictions after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, but some were built in 2020.

In April, a team of researchers from the British Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) found microchips of 12 American companies in Russian equipment in Ukraine, including Intel, Analog Devices, Texas Instruments and Onsemi.

Source: AMPE