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Conflict Armament Research tracks illegal weapons in conflicts; providing evidence-based info to support arms control. Media: communications @conflictarm .com
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New 📢 North Korean missiles produced in 2024 used in Ukraine
CAR's latest field findings from its investigations in Ukraine
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In early November 2022, a CAR team had access to Shahed-131, Shahed-136 single-use UAVs, and a Mohajer-6 UAV used by Russia in Ukraine. Here's what we found 🧵 (1/7, report shortcut link: , h/t
@damspleet
)
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In January 2023, a CAR field investigation team documented the warhead of an Iranian Shahed-131 single-use UAV. This is the first time that analysis of these warheads has been released in the public domain. 🧵 [1/8]
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We found that 70 different manufacturers from 13 different countries produced the components. 82% of the components were made by US-based companies (5/7)
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The new report on Iranian UAVs used by Russia in Ukraine shows that Iran, like Russia, is highly dependent on foreign components to produce weapons. (7/7
@damspleet
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New 📢 field dispatch from CAR: Dissecting Iranian drones employed by Russia in Ukraine. Read the latest from CAR's investigators here:
#UkraineWar
#Iran
#drones
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NEW: CAR investigators have just returned from conducting field documentations of Russian advanced weapon systems in Ukraine. CAR's initial analysis has identified components made by 71 different companies, based in Europe and the United States.
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Through visual comparison with four UAV models documented in 2017-2022 in the Middle East, CAR confirms that the Shahed-131, Shahed-136 and Mohajer-6 UAVs used by Russia in Ukraine were made in
#Iran
(2/7)
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Investigators also documented a Qaem-5 precision-guided munition, with a May 2022 date mark, indicating Iran has carried out at least some supplies since the invasion in February 2022 (CAR has redacted unique marks while it conducts formal tracing, 3/7)
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Compared with other Iranian-linked systems used in the Middle East since 2017, CAR found that the Iranian single-use UAVs used by Russia in Ukraine demonstrate a significant jump in hardware. (6/7)
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The Shahed-131, Shahed-136, and Mohajer-6 UAVs were made almost exclusively of recently produced non-Iranian parts. Most of the components for which investigators could identify a date of manufacture were made in 2020-2021 (4/7)
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CAR investigators have identified 18 North Korean Type 68 assault rifles among a series of weapons recovered following several high-profile ‘prison breaks’ by Islamic State cells. 🧵(1/7)
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CAR investigators have discovered conclusive evidence that confirms the identity of the producer behind the engines used in Iranian Shahed-136 UAVs.🧵(1/7)
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CAR has identified an Iranian company, Sarmad Electronics Sepahan Co., as the producer of several components that CAR investigators have documented in UAVs used by Russia in Ukraine. 🧵(1/6)
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In the year since Russian forces invaded Ukraine, CAR field investigators have deployed on six occasions to Ukraine to document advanced weapon systems used in the war. 🧵[1/9]
All our public resources and reporting are available at:
#UkraineRussianWar
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CAR recently documented a North Korean ballistic missile in Ukraine, and determined that it includes over 290 non-domestic electronic components, the majority of which bore brands of companies in the US, and produced in the last 3 years.
Read the report:
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The Shahed-131’s warhead has a primary shaped charge in the forward section, and 18 smaller shaped charges around the circumference. [4/8]
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In May and November 2023, CAR documented the remnants of 2 UMPK modules used by Russia in Ukraine. Integrating air-dropped munitions with UMPKs increases their range of engagement and allows bombers to mitigate risks of being targeted by Ukrainian air defences. 🧵(1/5)
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This multipurpose warhead for the Iranian Shahed-series UAV was specifically designed to ensure maximum damage to targets such as critical infrastructure
#drone
#UkraineRussiaWar
[2/8]
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This supports CAR’s observation that this multiple-effect warhead is designed specifically to attack large targets like energy infrastructure. [8/8]
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It also has two fragmentation matrixes designed to generate an additional radial fragmentation effect. [5/8]
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These matrixes appear to be a later addition, with poor fit and finish, alignment, and overall quality compared to the warhead itself. [6/8]
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Previous CAR documentations have seen that Shahed UAVs can be fitted with other types of warhead, like this reinforced, 7-mm-thick steel casing to penetrate structures before detonation. [7/8]
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CAR initially documented the UAV itself in November 2022, and showed the reliance of these Iranian systems on components produced by companies based in Europe and the US [3/8]
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CAR's investigations in North-east Syria have found new evidence showing that Islamic State forces in the region retain the ability to manufacture military materiel on a semi-industrial scale. (1/6)
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Sold on Amazon; transferred through a sporting goods shop in the UAE: How the Taliban were able to exploit commercial supply chains to access night vision equipment.
#nightvision
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On 2 May 2023, CAR field investigators documented a Shahed-136 UAV in
#Ukraine
which the security forces recovered ten days prior to documentation. The components found inside the UAV provide an insight into the use of the Shahed UAVs by Russian forces. 🧵(1/6)
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CAR investigators have documented evidence that the Russian Federation has started producing and fielding its own domestic version of the Iranian Shahed-136 UAV, providing it with multiple pathways to sustain its deployment of single-use UAVs.
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A
@conflictarm
field investigation team recently documented the electronic components of a North Korean ballistic missile recovered in Ukraine on 2 January 2024. CAR investigators documented over 290 components, mostly found in the missile’s navigation system.🧵 (1/6)
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Despite efforts by the suppliers of Iranian UAVs deployed in Ukraine to undermine the tracing of the supply chains of foreign components used in the systems’ engines, CAR’s findings prove that the engines are manufactured by Mado. (7/7)
Read the report:
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Investigators have long suggested that the Iran-based Oje Parvaz Mado Nafar Company (‘Mado’) was the manufacturer, weren’t able to publicly prove it because of an absence of unique identifying markings. (2/7)
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CAR investigators documented Russian advanced weapon systems in Ukraine last month identified at least 70 different EU and US-based manufacturers of critical components. See some examples in our latest field dispatch.
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New from CAR: Weapons of the War in Ukraine – findings from a three-year investigation into weapon sources to eastern Ukraine militants
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CAR investigators documenting Shahed-136 UAVs in Ukraine in January 2023 observed these Mado-brand markings on the spark plug caps of two of the engines. (3/7)
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The engines and sub-components each typically feature eight-digit serial numbers in the format ‘100XXXXX’. The same pattern was also recently observed by UN investigators on turbojet engines recovered from Quds-2 cruise missiles following Houthi attacks in UAE. (5/7)
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Cabling within the engines also bore ‘550’ markings, probably a reference to Mado’s own model designation for the Shahed-136 engine- the MD-550. These markings had not previously been reported on engines recovered from Iranian drones in Saudi Arabia in 2019, or in Ukraine. (4/7)
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NEW REPORT: Weapons of the Islamic State: A Three-Year Investigation in Iraq and Syria
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CAR has several new reports coming out in the next couple of weeks. To be among the first to see our latest findings from the field, sign up to CAR's mailing list:
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Efforts to trace the supply chains of foreign produced engine components such as carburettors have previously been hindered as original serial numbers and other markings were obliterated, and in some cases new serial numbers were applied. (6/7)
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NEW from CAR: "Procurement networks behind Islamic State improvised weapon programmes." Read the report here -
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What is this unusual mark and what does it mean? CAR investigators have seen it on a set of weapons following
#IslamicState
prison breaks in Syria. Our latest report delves into its significance. (Hat-tip to
@CalibreObscura
for their work on this question)
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Earlier this month, CAR documented the remnants of a ballistic missile that struck Kharkiv. CAR determined that the missile documented was manufactured in North Korea and is probably a KN-23 or KN-24. This is the first time CAR documented a North Korean ballistic missile. 🧵(1/7)
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New from CAR: Why Taliban seizures of US-equipment are only a fraction of the story
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CAR field investigators have just returned from documenting components of Russian-made advanced weapon systems in Ukraine. Work to identify the sources and supply chains for these components have only just begun.
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Critical components within these missiles were manufactured outside the country, including electromagnetic brakes (used to help control the missile fins), that were made by a company based in the Netherlands. CAR was able to trace some of these brakes with the manufacturer. (4/7)
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LATEST FINDINGS: Houthi forces employ RCIEDs, camouflaged to appear as rocks, against Arab Coalition forces in Yemen. CAR's investigations confirm Iran provided the necessary components.
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New 📢report from CAR: Missile components used in drone attacks in north-east Syria. Read the latest from CAR's field investigations here:
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In July 2023 CAR investigators in Ukraine documented remnants of two ‘Geran-2’ UAVs. Previously, CAR determined that UAVs marked ‘Geran’ in Ukraine were in fact manufactured in Iran. 🧵(1/6)
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More recently, Kendrion informed CAR that it would no longer do business with FEMSAN based on CAR's evidence. Read the full report and our findings about how these transfers may signify potential gaps in EU dual-use controls, in CAR's latest report: (7/7)
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CAR's latest report, 'Weapon Supplies into South Sudan's Civil War', is the result of 4 years field work documenting 201,517 rounds of ammunition and weapon systems from aircraft to MANPADS. Find the full report here:
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New from CAR: Our latest Field Guide helps to identify some of the most common weapons and ammunition manufactured by the DPRK. Read the Guide here:
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CAR's field investigators were present in Kyiv during the recent missile attack on 23 November. Documenting two of the missiles used shows that they were manufactured – at most – two months prior to their use.
#Ukraine
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We are excited to announce that
@Himayushiotani
today joins CAR as Head of International Policy. Himayu is highly respected in our sector and will be a huge boost to CAR's policy engagement. He will also be fundamental to our continued partnership with
@UNIDIR
. Welcome Hima.
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CAR’s recently updated Field Guide on the identification of weapons, ammunition, and packaging manufactured by North Korea features a new Type 68 rifle with an Établissement Industriel de la Défense (EID) – Syria mark on its receiver. (1/2)
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New 📢 from CAR: ‘Documenting a North Korean missile in Ukraine’
Read CAR's latest
#Ukraine
dispatch:
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The very latest from our fieldwork in Ukraine, documenting components of UAVs and other systems recovered in the conflict there.
#Ukraine
️
A
@conflictarm
team just returned from
#Ukraine
, where we saw some pretty recently introduced systems. Here's a short thread showing a couple of them 🧵 1/
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New from CAR 📢: 'Identifying post-invasion components in Russian weapons'
Last month, CAR investigators documented components produced after the Feb 22 invasion - the first discovery of post-invasion components in Russian weapon systems in
#Ukraine
🔗
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This finding suggests that Iranian companies are now domestically producing certain goods that may have been originally imported into the country. (6/6)
To find out more, read CAR’s latest Ukraine field dispatch:
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New 📢 CAR's latest reporting from Afghanistan looks at the weapons used in two high-profile attacks in Kabul and the similarities between them.
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CAR's findings highlight Russia's efforts to develop cheap and expedient methods for converting older air-delivered ordnance, relying to a certain extent on the acquisition of non-domestic commercial components. (4/5)
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New 📢from CAR: "New evidence confirms identity of Iranian drone engine maker."
Read CAR's latest
#Ukraine
field dispatch.
🔗
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New 📢: CAR investigators in north-east
#Syria
have documented materiel recovered from
#IslamicState
forces after three high-profile 'prison-breaks'. Last week saw the 1-year anniversary of the 'Battle of Hasakeh' - the largest IS op since loss of territorial control in 2019🧵
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On 10 and 11 January 2024, CAR documented the remnants of a ballistic missile that struck Kharkiv, Ukraine. CAR concluded that the missile is likely a KN-23 or KN-24, produced in North Korea, based on distinct characteristics.
Read the report:
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An international Islamic State network built pulsejet engines for high-powered UAVs using plans purchased online. They also tried to develop an automated anti-aircraft system driven by machine vision. Our new report:
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Removal of marks from components indicates efforts to impede the tracing of technology manufactured outside Russia and to notify manufacturers, were unaware, of the potential diversion of their products into Russian weapon systems.(5/5)
Read the report:
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We track weapons. From drones in Ukraine to shotguns smuggled into Nigeria, check out CAR's suite of field dispatches and interactive reporting here:
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To identify these rifles, investigators drew on CAR’s field guide, which has recently been updated to include observed variants of the Type 68, as well as a documented No. 7 rocket-propelled grenade launcher. (3/7)
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Both the UMPK modules include electronic components whose marks have been obliterated. This component found on the main navigation unit of the UMPK documented in November 2023 had its marks obliterated. (2/5)
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The latest insights from the field: CAR's investigations in
#Ukraine
identifying new commonalities between critical components in advanced weapon systems used by Russian forces. Read the full story here:
In July 2022,
@conflictarm
returned to
#Ukraine
to continue to document components of Russian weapons. There, we made an interesting discovery. Follow along... 1/19
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Yesterday the US sanctioned the Iranian company Sarmad Electronic for its production of UAVs used by Russian forces in Ukraine, something CAR reported on in July, identifying two different component types in our field documentations. Read the report here:
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The UN Panel of Experts on Yemen has previously observed ‘SSPS 105’–marked servomotors linked to the conflict in Yemen. These were originally manufactured in Japan but, although they share a model designation, are marked differently to the items documented in Ukraine. (5/6)
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CAR has been on the ground in Ukraine since 2018, and will continue to trace and investigate the exact chains of custody to the Russian defence industry. The information collected by CAR is critical to evidence-based policymaking and due diligence efforts. [9/9]
@damspleet
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New: CAR’s latest Technical Report presents a comprehensive analysis of the components and design of an Iranian AM-50 12.7 × 99 mm anti-materiel rifle. Download the report here
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NEW RELEASE: Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Devices (RCIED): Iran's Latest Technological Contributions to the War in Yemen
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CAR investigators in Ukraine have identified components produced by Sarmad Electronics in 2 models of Iranian UAVs: in a Shahed–131 and a Mohajer–6. CAR has tried to trace these components with Sarmad but have not yet received a reply. (3/6)
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New from CAR: Our latest deep dive explores the six Russian military drone models that CAR investigators documented in Ukraine, and shows where their components were made.
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📢New from CAR: Weapon supplies fuelling terrorism in the Lake Chad crisis
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New 📢 "Component commonalities in advanced Russian weapon systems" - a new field dispatch from
@conflictarm
investigations in
#Ukraine
in July
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Introducing the first video of CAR's new YouTube channel, This is Conflict Armament Research:
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During this global health crisis CAR’s investigators are still hard at work tracking - from their homes - the sources of weapon diversion into conflicts. CAR is very grateful to the partners who are cooperating with our investigations, and to our donors for their ongoing support.
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These rifles are rarely observed across CAR’s global data set of illicit weapons. Their presence in relatively high quantities within this prison break seizure data is highly unusual. (2/7)
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Sarmad is not currently listed on United Nations, European Union, or United States sanction lists, and was not previously known to be involved in Iran’s domestic UAV production. (2/6)
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International weapon supplies to factions in the Syrian conflict have significantly augmented the quantity and quality of weapons available to IS forces. Read more here
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CAR documented 2 UMPK modules used by Russia in Ukraine in 2023, which can be used to increase range and add an element of guidance to Fab-250/500 air-dropped munitions. CAR also noted efforts to hinder trace investigations of components.
Read the report:
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This discovery is notable as the material in prison break seizures contrasts sharply with the wider data sample: these rifles are 10x more common in prison break data than in rest of CAR’s sample in NE Syria. (7/7)
Read the latest Dispatch from NE Syria:
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New: 📢 'Documenting the domestic Russian variant of the Shahed UAV' The latest field dispatch from CAR's
#Ukraine
investigations, out today.
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"Iranian Weapons Built With Western Semiconductors Despite Sanctions" -
@nytimes
reporting on CAR's latest field dispatch from Ukraine.
#UkraineWar
@johnismay
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These date markings suggest a short life cycle for Shahed UAVs. The relatively short timeframe between production–deployment of this weapon system indicates expedited processes, likely compelled by military necessity. (6/6)
Read the latest Ukraine Dispatch
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The manufacturer, Kendrion NV, told CAR that it had agreed to supply up to 25,000 brakes to a Turkish company, but had been told on multiple occasions that the brakes would be used in ambulances in Türkiye. (5/7)
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CAR investigators have deployed multiple times to Ukraine to investigate how and if Russian Federation forces are acquiring components for drones and other advanced weapon systems. Read CAR's
#Ukraine
reporting here:
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The UMPK documented by CAR in November 2023 was equipped with a Kometa satellite navigation module, which CAR has documented in other Russian weapon systems, including multiple UAVs. (3/5)
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Both components documented in Ukraine bear a clear resemblance to products advertised on the Sarmad website, such as this servomotor marked ‘SSPS-105’. (4/6)
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CAR investigators in Niger documented weapons and ammunition recovered from Islamic State and Boko Haram-aligned fighters. Our recent report shows that around 25% of the recovered ammunition had once been in the custody of regional militaries.
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CAR's field evidence suggests that the stated end use was changed without the knowledge of the exporter. In November 2021, Kendrion required the Turkish company, FEMSAN, to sign a compliance statement. FEMSAN says since then no brakes have been used in defence applications. (6/7)
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NEW FRONTLINE PERSPECTIVE: Multi-role IEDs used with Islamic State’s weaponised drones
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Most recently, investigators returned from Ukraine last month having documented this multipurpose warhead used by the Shahed-series UAVs made in Iran. It was designed to ensure maximum damage to targets such as critical infrastructure in Ukraine. [8/9]
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