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The 35 Companies Behind the Production of Russia’s Deadly Iskander-M Missiles
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Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (HUR) has published information on 35 companies involved in the production of Russia’s Iskander-M ballistic missiles, as part of an effort to expose the supply chains supporting Moscow’s ballistic missile program.
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According to Ukrainian intelligence on August 27, Russia has increasingly relied on ballistic weapons as a key component of its aerial attacks in recent months. HUR noted that such strikes are frequently carried out at night, while ballistic missiles can reach Kyiv within a few minutes of launch.
“To counter the aggressor’s plans, it is important to consolidate efforts aimed at restricting Russia’s program for the development, production, and modernization of ballistic weapons,” HUR said.
The agency also disclosed details about an upgraded version of the missile, designated 9M723-2 and also known as the “Iskander-1000.” According to HUR, Russian forces first used the updated missile during one of the combined strikes on Kyiv this summer.
The 9M723-2 is part of a missile system known as Bora-M. Its enlarged engine and corresponding larger launcher allow it to strike targets at distances of up to 550 kilometers, compared with a range of 390 kilometers for the 9M723-1, according to Ukrainian intelligence.
Despite Russia’s efforts to replace imported technology with domestically produced alternatives, HUR said the 9M723 missile continues to rely heavily on foreign-made components.
Of the 140 components identified and published by Ukrainian intelligence, only around one-quarter are manufactured by Russian companies. The largest foreign contribution comes from the United States, with 63 components. Eight components each originate from manufacturers in Switzerland and Belarus, four each from Germany and Taiwan, and three from China.
Foreign dependence is particularly pronounced in the missile’s guidance system. According to HUR, only five of the 43 components found in a unit responsible for processing flight information received from the missile’s laser gyroscope are Russian-made.
“The most critical components—microprocessors, FPGAs, memory, digital-to-analog and analog-to-digital converters—come from American and Taiwanese manufacturers: DM&P Electronics, Xilinx (part of AMD), Atmel (part of Microchip Technology), Winbond Electronics, Micron Technology, and Analog Devices,” HUR said.
Ukrainian intelligence called for the companies, entities, and facilities involved in Russia’s ballistic missile production network to become a top priority for international sanctions.
Alongside efforts to disrupt Russia’s missile supply chain, Ukraine has also sought to destroy launch systems before they can be used. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces recently targeted a Russian Iskander ballistic missile launcher near the border in an operation aimed at eliminating the system before it could fire.
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