You will learn how China circumvents international sanctions to supply drones to Russia.
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Details are revealed about the Russian Comet antenna, which is used to bypass Ukrainian electronic warfare (EW) systems and international sanctions. Let’s talk about how this device affects the effectiveness of Ukrainian defense and production details that allow Russia to bypass sanctions due to complex corporate ties and the use of foreign components.
“Comet” is a powerful means of electronic warfare. The device became one of the key elements of Russian military equipment. A small but highly effective antenna array manufactured by the Russian company VNIIR-Progress demonstrates the ability to bypass electronic warfare systems used by Ukraine.” Comet is just one of the technologies. VNIIR-Progress manufactures a wide range of equipment, including systems for tanks , armored personnel carriers, marine and underwater equipment”. It also produces the navigation systems needed for effective electronic warfare.
Russia successfully circumvents all sanctions, attracting advanced technologies from abroad through shell companies. Since the invasion of Ukraine, the enemy has optimized and increased the production of military equipment, and Molfar analysts have uncovered complex networks, sanctions circumvention schemes and personal data of employees. Read more about these findings in this article.
“Comet” is an antenna array that helps the Russians bypass Ukrainian electronic warfare systems when our defenders want to “land”, say, Russian UAVs.
Probably, the development of “Comet” in Russia began back in 2008 to protect sensitive equipment from radio interference. “Comet” was created to protect navigation systems from intentional and unintentional interference. It stabilizes satellite signals and there are several variants of this receiver.
“Comet-A” — developed for manned aviation;
“Comet-B” — motor vehicles;
“Comet-N” — in land-based stationary facilities;
“Comet-M” is for drones.
Comet is produced by the company VNDIR-Progress (“VNIIR Progress”)
In 2012, “Comet” during testing received satellite signals even in conditions of strong interference.
“VNDIR-Progress” (in Russian – VNIIR – progress, i.e. – всероссийский научно-иследнейский институт релестроения) is a company specializing in the production of three main types of equipment. First, it is specialized electrical equipment that is installed in tanks, armored personnel carriers and other military vehicles. Second is marine equipment designed for submarines and warships. Third, navigational equipment used to protect against EW.
In July 2023, it became known that the Comet-M antenna is transferred from the Orlan drones to cruise bombs. In addition to “Comet”, “VNDIR-Progress” also produces the “Blesna” system, which is used to evaluate the resistance of navigation equipment to simulated obstacles.
Production capacities. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Russia into Ukraine, the share of production of navigation and satellite systems has increased. Over the past year, VNDIR-Progress has increased the production of some equipment by more than 100 times. As of May 2022, the company changed its status from a public to a non-public joint-stock company. Such a change means that it has decided to limit public access to its shares. In a non-public joint-stock company, shares are not available on the open market. A limited number of people have access to them. Until July 2023, the founder and owner of the company was VNDIR PJSC (VNIIR JSC). After that, in September 2023, another founder was named – Sokol Asset OJSC.
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Russia into Ukraine, the share of production of navigation and satellite systems has increased, because the production capacity of some products has also increased.
As of 2020, the company had 206 employees. According to the CEO of the company, Vladyslav Kostin, another 100 employees were hired in 2023, and the same number is planned to be recruited in the future. 31 employees were identified. List of identified employees.
In July 2023, it became known that Comet-M could be transferred from Orlan drones to cruise missiles. In addition to Comet, VNDIR-Progress produces the Blesna system for assessing the resistance of navigation equipment to simulated obstacles.
According to Chatham House research, the Russian defense industry is developing new systems and capabilities in military robotics. That is, despite the sanctions, the Russians continue to improve both their EW and other similar military technologies. For example, the study noted that the Russians are currently improving space and satellite systems dating back to Soviet times.
“VNDIR-Progress” manufactures special electrical equipment that is installed in tanks, armored and other vehicles, marine equipment used for submarines and warships, navigation equipment.
Formally, the general director of VNDIR “Progress” is a man named Vladyslav Kostin (his personal data are given below). It is associated with two other companies (Crocus Network and Sokol Network); actual control of VNIR appears to be held by Serbian businessman Nenad Popović (also leader of the Serbian People’s Party), despite Kostin’s formal leadership. This may indicate opaque connections between Nenad Popovych’s party and Russian companies and, indirectly, the Ministry of Defense of Russia. As shown in the graphic below.
“Sokol Asset” is probably a nominal company. The legal entity was registered in April 2023 and is located in Moscow, at 29 Naberezhna Serebryanicheskaya Street, in the same place as PJSC “VNDIR Gidroelektroavtomatika”, “OV Consulting” LLC, “Aisibisi Bank” JSC, “Cordiant” JSC, “Auto Finance Bank” JSC.
Holding “ABS Electro” is directly related to VNDIR “Progress” and works in the interests of the Ministry of Defense of Russia. This company develops electronic controls, control panels, ship equipment control systems, relay automation and, accordingly, the above-mentioned interference-resistant navigation antennas “Comet”.
Until July 2023, JSC “VNYIR” (VNYIR) was listed as the founder and owner of the company. Later, in September 2023, another founder appeared – JSC “Sokol Aktiv”.
The ultimate owner was the Serbian-Russian businessman Popovich Nenad, the owner of ABS Elektro, which owned VNIIR as of 2022. Nenad is also the leader of the pro-Russian Serbian People’s Party and minister without portfolio in the Serbian government responsible for innovation. As a politician, he advocates reconciliation with Russia. Popovych supports Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine and visited Russian-occupied Crimea in 2017.
ABS Electro was founded in 1994 by Nenad Popovich as ABS Holdings; the company changed its name to ABS Electro in February 2010. The company unites several enterprises.
U-Blox is a Swiss company. It develops and sells microchips and modules for global positioning systems (GPS) and wireless communications — GSM (2G), UMTS (3G), LTE (4G). The company’s products are widely used in the automotive industry, mobile devices, as well as in industrial and commercial applications, including navigation systems, traffic monitoring, telecommunications and more.
The largest importer of “U-BLOX” products in the Russian Federation is “Ultran EK” LLC (under sanctions in Ukraine). In 2022, the “U-BLOX” and “Cirocomm” modules, which were imported to Russia by “Ultran EK” LLC in 2019-2022, were found in the Russian reconnaissance UAV “Orlan-10”.
In October 2022, the components of the Taiwanese manufacturer Cirocomm were found in the Comet-M antenna, which was found by the Ukrainian military in the Orlan-10 reconnaissance drone. According to the marking, some parts were manufactured on May 2-8, 2022.
Thus, Russian companies actively circumvent international sanctions. Some companies take advantage of the fact that the international community supposedly forgets about them. Thus, they provide the Russian military-industrial complex with the most modern components.
The St. Petersburg branch of JSC VNIIR-Progress imported satellite navigation components worth $128,000 through the Indian company Si2 Microsystems. These components, produced in Ireland, the USA and Japan, could be used in the Orlan-10 reconnaissance UAV, which was used against Ukraine.
Also attracting attention is the role of companies under international sanctions in circumventing restrictions on the supply of military technology. For example, ET-Complex LLC imported $20,000 worth of Taoglas products from Hong Kong, which illustrates the complexity and secrecy of such activities.
In 2023, the St. Petersburg branch of JSC VNIIR-Progress imported products (spare parts for satellite navigation receivers) manufactured by Taoglas (Ireland), Samtec (USA) and Hirose Electric (Japan) from India for a total amount of USD 128,000. The supplier of the products was the Indian company Si2 Microsystems Pvt Ltd, which was not under sanctions at the time of publication of this article. In 2019, this company showed interest in VNDIR-Progress products. In particular, it was about Kometa antennas.
The second largest supplier of Taoglas products to the Russian Federation is Spark TT LLC: in total, from May 2022 to April 2023, the company imported foreign electronic components worth about 3 million USD.” Spark TT LLC is located in the Russian city of Cheboksary, four kilometers from the headquarters of “VNIIR-Progress”.
The supply chain of even the most modern equipment to the Russians remains effectively broken. Thus, the terrorist state can continue to use Western technologies in its war crimes against Ukraine.
Date of birth: 30.09.1966
Social networks: FB, TW
Personal website
Writes in his linkedin profile that as of 2022 he is no longer the owner of the company “ABS Electro”. However, he probably still controls ABS Electro, and this company, in turn, already owns VNDIR.
He was listed as the owner until January 2022, when the company closed its shareholder information and listed that information on its LinkedIn. He is also the leader of the pro-Russian Serbian People’s Party and a minister “without portfolio” (i.e. a member of the government who does not head a specific ministry) responsible for innovation in the Serbian government. As a politician, he promotes the idea of rapprochement with Russia. Popovych supports Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine, and in 2017 he visited occupied Crimea.
According to information on the occrp.org website, in 1995-1996, Popovych worked for Marc Rich, the founder of the company “Glencore”, which was engaged in business with apartheid Africa, traded Iraqi oil, bypassing UN sanctions, and also traded with Iran during the capture of American hostages. According to the article, Nenad Popovych opened Rich’s representative office in Russia and was the president of Koalko International, which was a partner of Glencore.
In 2003, he was a lecturer at the Department of Economics of Lomonosov Moscow State University; since 2000, he has been a professor at the Department of Economics and Planning of Mining Products at the Moscow State Mining University.
According to media reports, the Harwinter company, which Popovich called part of his holding company, was involved in the construction of Medvedev’s residence in the Utrysh Nature Reserve, and was also connected to the administration of the President of the Russian Federation.
In 2006, Putin awarded the general director of “Harwinter” Slobodan Obradovych. It is likely that the “palace” for Putin was also built by the “Harwinter” company.
In 2008, Nenad Popovych supported the sale of the Serbian oil company NIS to Gazprom. According to the Paradise Papers, he has been a legal resident and taxpayer in Switzerland since 2008, controls offshore companies registered in Cyprus and the British Virgin Islands, companies in Russia, and has assets in at least three countries. According to approximate estimates, his fortune is $75 million. His name is present on the “Peacemaker” website.
Date of birth: 28.10.1983
Social networks: VK, Inst
Phones: +79160366380, +79165868963
Mail: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
TIN: 772410397702
General Director of VNDIR-Progress. He is also listed as the chairman of JSC Crocus Asset, which specializes in providing financial services, and JSC Sokil Asset, which owns the legal entity VNDIR-Progress. In 2017, he held the position of director of the project management department of VNDIR Gidroelektroavtomatika JSC. In 2021, he met with the head of Chuvashia. In June 2022, he spoke at the Cheboksary Economic Forum.
In January 2023, he signed an agreement with the rector of Chuvash State University on the creation of a fund to support innovations at the university. In August 2023, he received an award from the organizers of the “Army” forum for his contribution to strengthening Russia’s external forces.
the Russian company “VNIIR-Progress” is looking for ways to circumvent sanctions. Moreover, it leads new developments in this area. This is a direct threat to Ukraine’s security. Especially considering how important drones are on the frontline.
The company holds licenses for a wide range of activities, including space activities, until 2099. The company also has licenses for the production of equipment for nuclear installations and other military equipment. These licenses demonstrate the importance of VNIIR-Progress for the Russian military sector.
“Comet” is an important element of the technological component of warfare. In particular, this device bypasses modern Western technologies. That is why it is very important to deprive Russia of the opportunity to increase the production of this antenna array.”
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