An apparent Shahed-136 drone shot down near Kupiansk in Ukraine. The image was released by the Ukrainian military in December. AP
An apparent Shahed-136 drone shot down near Kupiansk in Ukraine. The image was released by the Ukrainian military in December. AP
An apparent Shahed-136 drone shot down near Kupiansk in Ukraine. The image was released by the Ukrainian military in December. AP
An apparent Shahed-136 drone shot down near Kupiansk in Ukraine. The image was released by the Ukrainian military in December. AP

Iran drone shot down in Ukraine contained parts from 13 US companies, report says


Ismaeel Naar
  • English
  • Arabic

An Iranian drone shot down in Ukraine last year was found to contain parts made by 13 US companies, according to a Ukrainian intelligence report obtained by CNN.

Of the 52 components of the Iranian-made Shahed-136 "suicide drone”, the report found 40 had been manufactured by US businesses.

The assessment claims the remaining 12 were built by companies in Canada, Switzerland, Japan, Taiwan and China.

Russia is believed to have exhausted its Shahed-136 stockpile in November after sending an estimated 400 into Ukraine.

The long-range unmanned aerial vehicle can strike targets more than 2,000km away, Iran claims. It is propeller driven — giving it a speed of about 185kph — and is guided by GPS for accuracy.

Ukraine's military spokesman Yuriy Ignat says the country's air force has studied the drone and that its real range is probably closer to 1,000km.

Analysts at the US Foundation for the Defence of Democracy, a think tank, say this still gives Russia the option of using Belarus as a relative safe haven for launching the low-cost weapons into Ukraine.

The damage they can cause is immense: Previous attacks on critical infrastructure such as power stations have plunged millions of Ukrainians into darkness and left many without heating, as temperatures drop below zero.

Attacks on Ukraine's infrastructure have damaged or destroyed about 40 per cent of the country's power generation capacity of 58 gigawatts.

The US is looking at ways to curb Iranian drone production through sanctions and export controls, and is talking to private companies whose parts have been used in production, the White House said on Wednesday.

“We are assessing further steps we can take in terms of export controls to restrict Iran’s access to technologies used in drones,” White House National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said.

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The US had previously imposed sanctions on companies and people it accused of producing or transferring Iranian drones that Russia has used to attack civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed Moscow plans to step up the use of Iranian-made exploding drones.

“We have information that Russia is planning a prolonged attack by Shaheds,” he said on Monday.

Mr Zelenskyy said Russia's goal is to break Ukraine’s resistance by “exhausting our people, air defence, our energy”.

Ukraine, he said, had to “act and do everything so that the terrorists' fail in their aim, as all their others have failed”.

An old challenge

Think tanks and international weapons-monitoring companies say hundreds of western-made components have found their way not only into Iranian drones, but also Russian weaponry used in the Ukraine war, including the Orlan-10 drone.

In August, UK think tank Rusi released a report on foreign components used in Russian systems, including drones, saying that 450 of the components had been supplied by western companies.

The report stated that many of the companies were unaware they were providing critical parts for guidance systems, cameras and sensors.

Last month, it was discovered that Canadian company Tallysman Wireless had supplied components for the Shahed-136, though the company's chief executive said that it was not always possible to know where products were ending up.

Gyles Panther told Canada’s Globe and Mail that his company supported Ukraine and it would take action to tighten controls over re-exports.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned of tougher action to control supply chains.

“We have strict export permits in place for sensitive technology that are rigorously enforced, and that’s why we will be following up with this company that is fully co-operating to try to figure out exactly how items that were not supposed to get into the hands of anyone like the Iranian government actually ended up there,” Mr Trudeau said at the time.

Ukrainian researchers also found components in the drones from Japan’s Panasonic and a company called HITEC USA.

The challenge of stopping western components from being used in Iranian military equipment is not new.

In 2019, investigators accused Czech and German companies of supplying Iranian drones with components after wreckage of an unmanned aircraft was found at Abqaiq and Kurais in Saudi Arabia, where oil facilities had reportedly been attacked by Yemen's Houthi rebels.

Many of the components found in the weapons were originally made for civilian use, as is the case with Iran's microchip supply line from the West.

A Czech report on the issue said the incident showed “the risks associated with re-exports”.

More recently, an international investigation has been working to discover how Iran was able to procure Rotax engines used in their Mohajer-6 drones, which have also been used in Ukraine.

Re-exports of engines made by Rotax, a subsidiary of Bombardier Recreational Products, are being investigated by authorities in Canada, the UK and Norway.

Stopping the re-export of microchips will be far harder, due to their ubiquity and the fact that many are “dual use” devices that have legitimate civilian purposes.

Agencies contributed to this report

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Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm

Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year

Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”

Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners

TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013 

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Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000

Available: Now

Tamkeen's offering
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Pakistan Super League

Previous winners

2016 Islamabad United

2017 Peshawar Zalmi

2018 Islamabad United

2019 Quetta Gladiators

 

Most runs Kamran Akmal – 1,286

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogenChromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxideUltramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica contentOphiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on landOlivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour

Match info

Premier League

Manchester United 2 (Martial 30', Lingard 69')
Arsenal 2 (Mustafi 26', Rojo 68' OG)

ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA

Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi

Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser

Rating: 4.5/5

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How to apply for a drone permit
  • Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
  • Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
  • Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
  • Submit their request
What are the regulations?
  • Fly it within visual line of sight
  • Never over populated areas
  • Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
  • Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
  • Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
  • Should have a live feed of the drone flight
  • Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
THE BIO

Favourite place to go to in the UAE: The desert sand dunes, just after some rain

Who inspires you: Anybody with new and smart ideas, challenging questions, an open mind and a positive attitude

Where would you like to retire: Most probably in my home country, Hungary, but with frequent returns to the UAE

Favorite book: A book by Transilvanian author, Albert Wass, entitled ‘Sword and Reap’ (Kard es Kasza) - not really known internationally

Favourite subjects in school: Mathematics and science

Stuck in a job without a pay rise? Here's what to do

Chris Greaves, the managing director of Hays Gulf Region, says those without a pay rise for an extended period must start asking questions – both of themselves and their employer.

“First, are they happy with that or do they want more?” he says. “Job-seeking is a time-consuming, frustrating and long-winded affair so are they prepared to put themselves through that rigmarole? Before they consider that, they must ask their employer what is happening.”

Most employees bring up pay rise queries at their annual performance appraisal and find out what the company has in store for them from a career perspective.

Those with no formal appraisal system, Mr Greaves says, should ask HR or their line manager for an assessment.

“You want to find out how they value your contribution and where your job could go,” he says. “You’ve got to be brave enough to ask some questions and if you don’t like the answers then you have to develop a strategy or change jobs if you are prepared to go through the job-seeking process.”

For those that do reach the salary negotiation with their current employer, Mr Greaves says there is no point in asking for less than 5 per cent.

“However, this can only really have any chance of success if you can identify where you add value to the business (preferably you can put a monetary value on it), or you can point to a sustained contribution above the call of duty or to other achievements you think your employer will value.”

 

What is graphene?

Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.

It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.

It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.

It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.

Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.

The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.

2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups

Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.

Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.

Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.

Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.

Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.

Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.

Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.

Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.

Mina Cup winners

Under 12 – Minerva Academy

Under 14 – Unam Pumas

Under 16 – Fursan Hispania

Under 18 – Madenat

Winners

Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)

Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)

TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski

Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)

Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)

Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea

Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona

Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)

Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)

Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)

Best National Team of the Year: Italy 

Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello

Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)

Player Career Award: Ronaldinho

Updated: January 05, 2023, 3:21 PM