Western tech fuels Russian missile production despite sanctions
The Oreshnik missile, launched by Russia towards Ukraine in November, was built with significant Western contributions—at least according to findings by Financial Times journalists. The analysis shows that Russian companies continue to use advanced Western production equipment.
The Russian medium-range ballistic missile Oreshnik, recently fired towards the city of Dnipro in Ukraine, was manufactured using advanced Western production equipment despite existing sanctions.
Western technology in the Russian missile
Two key Russian military engineering institutes—the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology (MITT) and Sozvezdie—have been identified by Ukrainian intelligence as the creators of the Oreshnik. According to Financial Times, in 2024, both institutes posted job listings requiring expertise in German and Japanese metal processing systems.
The job listings mentioned control systems from Fanuc (Japan) and Siemens and Heidenhain (both from Germany) for CNC machines, which are crucial for missile production. Despite sanctions, Financial Times analysis indicated that in 2024, Heidenhain components worth at least CAD 4.2 million found their way to Russia, with some purchasers closely linked to military production.
Mysterious Russian missile
It's worth noting that not long ago, Ukrainians reported finding remnants of the Oreshnik with parts marked with numbers suggesting the missile was constructed using components manufactured in April 2017. This could indicate that Russian assertions about the weapon's modernity are inaccurate.
Currently, detailed information about the parameters of the Oreshnik missile is still limited. Assuming this technology aligns with the RS-26 system, the missile's launch weight may range from 40,000 to 50,000 kg. These rockets can travel up to 6,000 km, and the standard equipment includes four warheads, each with a yield of 0.3 megatons.
