Thirty-three months into Russia’s wider war on Ukraine, escalating foreign sanctions on Russian industry are finally having a noticeable impact on the Kremlin’s modernisation efforts. Russian plane-maker United Aircraft Corporation is struggling to source critical foreign-made components for the Russian air force’s sole stealth fighter type, the Sukhoi Su-57 – aka the “Felon” in Nato’s reporting system.
Struggling, but not completely failing. The ways by which UAC obtains the components speak to Russia’s enduring strength as the wider war grinds on. But they also hint at unresolved flaws in Russian weapons procurement – flaws Russia’s opponents could still exploit to further squeeze Moscow’s armed forces.
The sanctioned components – including microchips and circuit boards – are part of the MPPU-50, a German-made device for calibrating the twin-engined, supersonic Su-57’s radar. Germany has barred Russia from directly importing the device. This has forced the Russians to find workarounds.
Thirty-three months into Russia’s wider war on Ukraine, escalating foreign sanctions on Russian industry are finally having a noticeable impact on the Kremlin’s modernisation efforts. Russian plane-maker United Aircraft Corporation is struggling to source critical foreign-made components for the Russian air force’s sole stealth fighter type, the Sukhoi Su-57 – aka the “Felon” in Nato’s reporting system.
Struggling, but not completely failing. The ways by which UAC obtains the components speak to Russia’s enduring strength as the wider war grinds on. But they also hint at unresolved flaws in Russian weapons procurement – flaws Russia’s opponents could still exploit to further squeeze Moscow’s armed forces.
The sanctioned components – including microchips and circuit boards – are part of the MPPU-50, a German-made device for calibrating the twin-engined, supersonic Su-57’s radar. Germany has barred Russia from directly importing the device. This has forced the Russians to find workarounds.