- Category
- Latest news
Russian Missiles May Contain Austrian-Made Laser Components, Investigation Finds
- Authors
![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
Russian defense industry firms may have used Austrian-made laser diodes in the guidance systems of air-to-air missiles, according to a recent report by the private intelligence and analytics company Dallas on July 22.
The report centers on Roithner Lasertechnik GmbH, an Austrian manufacturer. Following the publication, Ukraine’s national news agency Ukrinform reached out to the company for comment.
Dallas published a document on its website that was allegedly obtained “from a trusted source within the Russian company TRV‑Engineering,” and which “confirms the possible use of Austrian-made products by ROITHNER LASERTECHNIK GmbH in weapons production.”
An internal letter dated July 15, 2025, reveals that TRV-Engineering director Mikhail Kolesnikov informed Vasiliy Aksyonov, head of the Azov Optical-Mechanical Plant, that 28 units of RLT1060-100G diodes produced by Roithner Lasertechnik GmbH—shipped under invoice No. 2838 on February 15, 2023—had successfully completed initial testing of the semiconductor wafer.
The letter also states that if the diodes meet the declared specifications, assembly and packaging will be initiated without delay, with an expected readiness date of July 28, 2025.
Both TRV-Engineering and the Azov Optical-Mechanical Plant are part of the Tactical Missiles Corporation, Russia’s main missile producer.
Dallas analysts suggest the laser diodes were likely “intended to enhance the seeker heads of Russian air-to-air missiles.”
In a comment to Ukrinform on August 1, Roithner Lasertechnik GmbH CEO Andreas Roithner denied any links to Russian defense entities.
“No, there has been no cooperation whatsoever,” Roithner said in response to a question about possible cooperation with TRV-Engineering or any other Russian defense-related companies.
According to Ukrinform, Roithner Lasertechnik had been misled by a Hong Kong buyer regarding the end use of the laser diodes. In February 2023, United Electronics Group Company Limited ordered 50 RLT1060-100G laser diodes, but only 22 were delivered in April that year from the stock of a German distributor. Due to technical issues with the US-based diode manufacturer, the remaining 28 units were not shipped.
Roithner Lasertechnik said it learned about the possible transfer of its components to the Russian defense sector only after the publication by Dallas.
“We only became aware of this situation thanks to Dallas,” Roithner said, when asked whether the company had any prior knowledge or suspicions about its products reaching Russian weapons manufacturers.
Earlier, a Chinese-manufactured component was discovered in the wreckage of a Russian-Iranian “Shahed-136”/“Geran-2” combat drone after a large-scale Russian airstrike on Kyiv on July 4, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha reported.
Sybiha noted the timing of the discovery, pointing out the irony that it came just hours after a Russian missile strike had inflicted minor damage on the Chinese Consulate General in Odesa.
