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Indian-Made Parts Discovered in Russian Drones Targeting Ukraine
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Ukraine has formally raised concerns with both the Indian government and the European Union over Indian-made or assembled electronic components being found in Iranian-designed drones deployed by Russia against Ukraine, Hindustan Times reported on August 5.
According to sources familiar with the matter and documents reviewed by Hindustan Times, the Ukrainian government sent at least two official communications to India’s Ministry of External Affairs after discovering Indian components in Shahed-136 loitering munitions. These findings date back to 2023 and have continued into this year.
Ukrainian diplomats also brought up the issue during EU sanctions envoy David O’Sullivan’s mid-July visit to New Delhi. According to Hindustan Times O’Sullivan’s trip aimed to brief Indian officials on the EU’s latest sanctions package, which included measures targeting refined products made from Russian crude, such as those processed at the Vadinar refinery jointly owned by Rosneft.
According to Ukrainian investigative findings, components produced or assembled in India by Vishay Intertechnology and Aura Semiconductor were identified in downed Shahed-136 drones. Specifically, a Vishay Intertechnology "bridge rectifier E300359" assembled in India was found in the drone’s voltage regulation unit. Meanwhile, a PLL-based AU5426A signal generator chip from Aura Semiconductor was used in a navigation system component designed to resist GPS jamming.
While the firms involved have not violated Indian export laws on a technical level, the findings highlight vulnerabilities in the global supply chain for dual-use technologies.
“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,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, commenting on the matter.
Although the Ukrainian Embassy in New Delhi did not issue an official statement, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Directorate has publicly reported the presence of Indian-origin components in Shahed drones via its official Facebook page and Telegram channel, according to Hindustan Times.
US-based Vishay Intertechnology did not respond to multiple requests for comment. However, Kishore Ganti, co-founder of Bengaluru-based Aura Semiconductor Pvt Ltd, said the company complies fully with national and international export controls and is “deeply disturbed” by the possible diversion of its products.
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“We are deeply disturbed by the possibility that any of our components may have reached defense 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,” Aura Semiconductor noted
Ganti added that upon learning of the issue, the company launched a limited audit to determine the end-use of the component, but the results were inconclusive. The component in question, he said, is a plug-and-play item that can function without support from the manufacturer—making traceability especially difficult.
According to Hindustan Times, sources said several Indian-made components had been legally exported to West Asian countries, from where they may have been re-exported to Russia or Iran. Following Ukraine’s complaint, Indian security agencies conducted outreach visits to electronics manufacturers in Delhi, Bengaluru, and Mumbai to increase awareness of restrictions surrounding dual-use goods.
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The Shahed-136, a relatively low-cost loitering munition, has become a key part of Russia’s long-range strike capabilities since late 2022.
Ukraine’s intelligence services have also found electronic components from US and Chinese firms in Russian drones and weapons.
Ajay Srivastava, founder of the Global Trade Research Initiative, noted the broader challenge: “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.”
Earlier, a Chinese-manufactured component was discovered in the wreckage of a Russian-Iranian Shahed-136 combat drone after a large-scale Russian airstrike on Kyiv on July 4.
