The Russian arms manufacture is dependent on imports — and this is not just about the state-of-the-art, complex and unique equipment of Western companies. Practically all trifle Russia brings from abroad, due to the fact that its production has been economically unprofitable to it so far.
Theoretically, it is able to produce almost everything itself. However, creating production processes for each kind of goods takes time — usually at least 1 year and sometimes even more. At the same time, launching the production of all the essential components in Russia is besides ambitious, so this problem cannot be solved — only imports can be replaced in those circumstantial areas where supply interruptions occur. And since in most cases Russia does not know in advance what will be sanctioned, a abrupt cessation of supply can lead to production interruptions lasting many months or even years — until Moscow builds its own production or finds another supplier country (which is not always possible).
Journalists of The Insider have discovered that China's function in supporting Russia's war device may not be as large as it might seem, especially in the smuggling of Western precision technology. In the low-cost and simple parts and components sector, however, China retains an undisputed leadership position. It would suffice to block the supply of 1 of the tens of ‘unimportant’ goods of negligible value, This would have stopped the production of any key Russian plants for a year and a half. For any types of weapons, this may be decisive for the situation at the front.
The Insider has repeatedly reported that Russia receives unique industrial equipment, fresh technologies, precise instruments, their components and uncommon natural materials from the West and the East, which are highly likely utilized by the military-industrial complex. However, we must not forget the inevitable “old” technologies, parts and natural materials that are not secret to anyone. Blocking their supply would importantly slow down her war machine.
Powder stabilizer: diphenylamine
Smokeless powder, besides called gunpowder, is nitrocellulose with additives that make its retention safer. Nitrocellulose, in peculiar piroxylin, is obtained from cellulose by nitric acid nitrogenation. In order to store and usage it, stabilisers are added to it. According to The Insider, the main stabilizing additive, diphenylamine, is Chinese. At least half of Russia's request for diphenylamine is covered by deliveries from that country.
Anti-interference antennas
The Insider has already written about Russia importing from China antennas utilized to bypass Ukrainian electronic combat systems — both those produced in China and Taiwan. A complex antenna, consisting of respective simple antennas, receives a signal not from all directions, but selectively, so that it can "disconnect" from the Ukrainian anti-electronic system. Without specified antennas Shahid drones would become completely blind.
Electrical motors (for FPV drones)
In drones, motors are usually used, in which solid magnets are mounted on the rotor, and respective stationary coils around it form a variable magnetic field controlled by a simple scheme. For its construction, bearings, magnets, thin copper wire and any electronics are needed. Wire winding machines are needed for mass production of electrical motors.
As determined by The Insider, Russia is dependent on the supply of Chinese electrical motors to drones. It is not known to produce them on a akin scale. Its import of these engines amounts to over 100 million dollars (about 370 million PLN) per year. There is nothing peculiar about their production, but on specified a scale no 1 else is presently able to produce this product. If Russia falls out of the production process for 1 and a half years (and the fast launch of the production of electrical motors in its territory on specified a scale is unlikely), it will immediately and importantly affect the situation on the front, where drones have become a key weapon.
Carbon fibre
Carbon fibre — flexible and durable modern material — allows the production of composite materials with the required mechanical properties. On a regular basis, carbon fibre produces rods, ski poles and another sports equipment. However, it is besides utilized in the automotive, aerospace and aerospace industries, as well as in the production of drones for which light and durable elements are needed. As The Insider stated, Russia is heavy dependent on Chinese carbon fibre. Without it, no Shahid / Geran will emergence into the air. It makes drones even lighter, so they can fly longer.
Fibers
FPV drones The fiber-controlled forces became the main fighting force in the open field. Practically usable fibre optics, which found commercial use, were able to make humanity in the 1980s.
The Insider learned that Russia is practically entirely dependent on China for the supply of fibre optics and natural materials for their production – a quartz preform. Moscow itself does not produce them, and fibre production may have been disrupted after attack by the Armed Forces of Ukraine on a mill in Sarańsk. Therefore, imports of fibre optics began to play an even greater function than before.
Why can't Russia produce everything alone?
By 2014, Russia was integrated into the planet economy. After annexing Crimea and introducing many sanctions by the West Putin began to talk about replacing imports, but in the realities of the modern planet even specified production giants as China would be hard to cut off from global production chains.
For Russia, whose share of global GDP is 3%, most of which are natural resources, this was impossible from the start. As a result, Russia's integration into the planet economy has declined over the past 11 years of sanctions, but it has failed to completely replace its own production. As a result, it will depend for a long time on China and another countries of the world, even on the simplest technologies.
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