“The development of the Oreshnik shows how reliant the Russian military-industrial complex still is on high-end Western equipment,” explains Denys Hutyk, Executive Director of ESCU, for the Financial Times.
Journalists analyzed job postings from the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology and the 'Sozvezdie' Concern, both involved in the production of the Oreshnik missile. They discovered that these enterprises are seeking specialists experienced with metalworking systems made by Siemens, Heidenhain, and Fanuc. Equipment by Fanuc was also spotted in a video from the Federal Scientific and Production Center 'Titan-Barricades,' another enterprise linked to the Oreshnik project.
Fanuc is a Japanese brand, while Siemens and Heidenhain are German. These companies specialize in high-precision CNC machines, which are indispensable for manufacturing advanced weaponry.
The FT reports that Russia continues to rely on foreign-manufactured machines despite its attempts to develop domestic alternatives. In 2024, at a major Russian exhibition, eight Chinese companies showcased 12 CNC machine models. However, ESCU's analysis revealed that 11 of them were still equipped with controllers from Japanese or German manufacturers.
"Western governments must intensify their efforts to halt the flow of such goods, as they directly support Russian aggression against the Ukrainian people," Hutyk emphasizes in his conversation with FT.
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