More than two decades after the end of the Cold War, the Russian defense industry virtually cannot produce any modern sophisticated weaponry without Western-made components and materials, with some essential parts coming directly from the United States. Last month, Deputy Prime Minister in charge of the defense industry Dmitry Rogozin, speaking at a meeting of the governmental Military-Industrial Commission, demanded that “more must be done” to replace foreign-made electronic components used in Russian defense production. Plans have been enacted to develop Russian-made electronic components in cooperation with Belarus, but, according to Rogozin, at present the “list of foreign-made electronic components” allowed to be used in Russian weapons is constantly growing and “this is intolerable” (RIA Novosti, September 19).
A top-level source within the Russian defense industry, speaking on condition of anonymity, previously told Jamestown that high-resolution radars needed for the most modern Russian fighter jets, as well as anti-aircraft and ballistic missile defense systems require US-made components. As Rogozin confirms, the “list” of such components is approved by the Defense Ministry and they are procured in the West with the help of the intelligence services. Despite the overall worsening of relations, Western governments in recent years seem to have turned a blind eye to growing Russian purchases of high-tech military-connected equipment.
