The Biden administration has launched an expansive task force to investigate how US and western components, including American-made microelectronics, are ending up in Iranian-made drones Russia is launching by the hundreds into Ukraine, multiple officials familiar with the effort tell CNN.
The Biden administration has launched an expansive task force to investigate how US and western components, including American-made microelectronics, are ending up in Iranian-made drones Russia is launching by the hundreds into Ukraine, multiple officials familiar with the effort tell CNN.
Among the components found in some of the drones are processors built by the Dallas-based technology company Texas Instruments, according to an investigation by the Ukrainian Armed Forces and a source familiar with the US inquiry, as well as an engine made by an Austrian firm owned by Canada's Bombardier Recreational Products. Both companies have condemned any use of their technology for illicit purposes.
Iran has already begun transferring blueprints and components for the drones to Russia to help with production there,Agencies across Washington are involved in the task force, including the departments of Defense, State, Justice, Commerce and Treasury, with one official describing the inquiry as an "all hands on deck" initiative.
National Security Council official John Kirby told reporters earlier this month that the US would be sanctioning three Russian companies involved in acquiring and using the Iranian drones, and is "assessing further steps we can take in terms of export controls to restrict Iran's access to sensitive technologies."
last month by the Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security. "China plays a larger role than previously assessed in enabling Iran to manufacture and supply drones to Russian forces," the report found. "It appears that Chinese companies are supplying Iran with copies of Western commodities to produce UAV combat drones."
Iran also uses front companies to buy equipment from the US and EU that may have a dual use, like the Austrian engines, that Tehran can then use to build drones,That makes supply chain monitoring a challenge, though experts say US and European companies could be doing a lot more to track where their products are going.
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