In our previous investigations, we analyzed the activities of the company “Rosatom,” which spreads Putin’s influence across the world through nuclear technologies, and the design bureau “Raduga,” which manufactures cruise missiles used to kill civilians in Ukraine. But what connects these two seemingly different companies? Besides being tools of the Kremlin regime, they are also linked by the design bureau “Mars” (FGUP MOKB “Mars”).
MOKB “Mars” is a Russian company specializing in the development of onboard automatic control and navigation systems for aviation and space vehicles. Currently, the bureau produces control systems for the “Electro-L,” “Arktika-M,” and “Spektr-UV” spacecraft. Most importantly, it modernizes and manufactures control systems for upper-stage rockets and onboard systems for cruise missiles produced by the “Raduga” Design Bureau.
This company modernizes and services the K-051M and U501M systems, as well as the SN-99 navigation modules used in X-series cruise missiles (X-32, X-59, X-101) for the Raduga Design Bureau and JSC “Dubna Machine-Building Plant named after M.P. Fedorov” (hereinafter DMZ). Both companies are under international sanctions.
Acts of Investigation of Cruise Missiles for Malfunctions in K-051M and U501M Systems
As seen in the Investigation Act dated February 13, 2023, MOKB “Mars” performs repairs on the K-051M and U501M systems for the Raduga Design Bureau and JSC “Dubna Machine-Building Plant named after M.P. Fedorov.”
The main issue with the K-051M and U501M systems is their frequent failures, along with other missile components. This occurs due to the lack of sufficient Western electronic components, caused by international sanctions. As a result, there are constant breakdowns in the X-series cruise missiles.
For instance, here is a table of failures and restorations for the X-32 cruise missiles as of September 19, 2022.
- The tables shown in the figure can be downloaded from the *.xlsx file.
The graph shows that over 50% of X-32 missiles experienced issues with the K-051M and U501M systems, which in most cases were successfully repaired, though at the cost of resources and time.
According to our information, the Dubna Machine-Building Plant (DMZ) received instructions from the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade to increase the production of X-32 missiles in 2023 from 80 to 207 units, and in 2024 from 132 to 215 units. Therefore, it can be assumed that a significant portion of these missiles will have technical defects that will need to be addressed in some way.
Another important component of these missiles is the SN-99 navigation system.
As revealed in the Frontelligence Insight investigation, SN-99 navigation systems produced in March 2023 and used in cruise missiles that attacked Ukrainian cities contained electronic components from Western companies such as Silicon Laboratories, NXP Semiconductors, Dallas Semiconductor, SPANSION, Maxim Integrated Products, and Integrated Silicon Solution. While the Russians claimed these to be domestically produced products, it is highly unlikely that they could have fully replaced Western components in such a short period.
Thus, the question arises: how are they obtaining these Western components? The primary explanation is that MOKB “Mars” is subordinate to the Russian state-owned company “Rosatom.”
View of the SN-99 block according to the storymaps.arcgis.com report.
As we mentioned in our investigation into the activities of “Rosatom,” this company is generally not subject to international sanctions, except for a few of its subsidiaries. Therefore, under the guise of supplying Western components for the construction and modernization of nuclear power plants, these components are freely delivered to MOKB “Mars,” which services navigation devices for Russian cruise missiles.
It is particularly important to consider that “Rosatom” likely purchases Western electronic components for its equipment used in data processing centers (DPCs) at nuclear power plants. However, these components can easily end up at MOKB “Mars” for the production of control systems for the X-series cruise missiles.
Equipment Used in Data Processing Centers at Rosatom’s Nuclear Power Plants
In the investigation into the Raduga Design Bureau, it was noted that Raduga continues to expand despite the sanctions. For its expansion and equipment procurement, the company collaborates with firms such as Farsoon (China), Hangcha (China), Hision (China), Fagima Jazz R (Italy), Automator (Italy), and Hottinger GmbH (Germany). The company plans to increase production of its X-101 missiles by 20 percent in 2025.
Given all of the above, Russia is still unable to independently create a closed production cycle for electronic components for its military-industrial complex. As a result, it utilizes all available opportunities to purchase Western components.
One of the tools used to bypass sanctions is the company “Rosatom,” which, due to the absence of sanctions imposed on it, is able to obtain Western electronics. These components are then transferred to MOKB “Mars,” a subsidiary of “Rosatom,” which services control and navigation systems for cruise missiles.
In addition, “Rosatom” has been tasked by the Russian government with ensuring technological independence and the security of Russia’s critical information infrastructure. To achieve this, the joint-stock company “Scientific-Production Association ‘Critical Information Systems'” (JSC “NPO ‘KIS'”) was created, with its shares fully owned by “Rosatom.”
The purpose of this association is to support and develop Russia’s radio-electronic industry and IT sector. It is planned that this entity will acquire key Russian radio-electronic enterprises to expand its production capabilities, as well as explore various avenues for procuring Western components.
However, the sanctions still have an effect, as evidenced by the fact that many cruise missiles have defects—either due to the lack of certain Western components or the difficulty in creating a domestic Russian technological base to replace them. Therefore, despite Russia’s claims of transitioning to domestic production of these components, this is unlikely to happen in the near future, and efforts will continue to source them from Western countries, circumventing the imposed international sanctions.
It is necessary to intensify sanctions pressure, particularly by imposing sanctions on “Rosatom” and its subsidiaries. It is also crucial to strictly enforce these measures. Only then will there be a chance that Russia’s military industry will be unable to fully meet the country’s needs in its aggression against Ukraine.
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