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Japanese Parts Found in 90% of Russian Missiles and Drones, Ukraine Official Says
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Components manufactured by Japanese companies are present in approximately 90% of Russian cruise and ballistic missiles, as well as in unmanned aerial vehicles used in the war against Ukraine.
The statement was made by Sanctions Policy Envoy to the President of Ukraine Vladyslav Vlasiuk in comments to Kyodo News on June 30.
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He noted that electronic components from leading Japanese semiconductor firms and other major electronics manufacturers are used in Kh-101 cruise missiles, among other systems.
Most of the parts identified in Russian weapons were originally produced for civilian use in Japan. According to the report, this suggests that Russia is acquiring general-purpose goods that are difficult to effectively control once exported.
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Kyodo News journalists contacted 13 Japanese companies whose components were found in Russian missiles and drones. Five manufacturers said they could not confirm the origin of the parts due to limited information, one company suggested its product may have been repurposed, and another said the identified component likely belonged to a different manufacturer.
The use of foreign-made components extends beyond finished weapon systems into Russia’s domestic defenіe production base. The country’s military industry is supported by an extensive network of defenіe enterprises, with the Perm Powder Plant at the centre of the military-industrial complex, producing components for more than 200 weapons systems. The facility manufactures components for more than 200 weapons systems and describes its role as essential to sustaining Russia’s state defense capability.
However, internal Russian defense documents obtained by UNITED24 Media indicate that the plant is far from self-sufficient and remains significantly reliant on foreign supply chains. It is Russia’s largest producer of solid rocket fuel and the sole supplier of several key propellant types. Its production supports a wide range of systems, including anti-tank missiles such as “Kornet” and “Metis,” multiple rocket launchers like “Grad,” “Smerch,” and “Tornado,” as well as ballistic missile systems including “Iskander,” “Topol-M,” and “Yars.”
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The plant’s output also feeds into air defense systems such as S-300 and S-400, “Buk” and “Tor” complexes, advanced air-to-air missiles, and naval strike systems including “Kalibr.”
Despite sanctions, materials and chemical components supplied by companies from France, Belgium, China, Japan, and South Korea continue to enter Russia’s production networks, filling critical gaps in domestic manufacturing and sustaining its military operations in Ukraine.
Beyond supply chains for individual components, Ukraine also points to the role of imported industrial equipment in sustaining Russia’s military production. Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence has released updated data highlighting the continued use of foreign-made manufacturing equipment within Russia’s military-industrial complex.
The list includes a wide range of machinery such as lathes, milling and grinding machines, CNC machining centres, printed circuit board production systems, vibration testing equipment, and temperature chambers.
According to the report, the equipment is sourced from manufacturers in Germany, Japan, Taiwan, Austria, Switzerland, and other countries, and is considered an important factor in maintaining Russia’s defense production capacity.
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