On June 29, Kyodo News reported that Vladyslav Blasiuk, an advisor on sanctions policy to the Ukrainian president, stated in an interview that "about 90% of the cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and drones used by the Russian military contain parts manufactured by Japanese companies."
He explained that an analysis of weapon debris recovered by Ukrainian forces revealed numerous Japanese electronic components.
Blasiuk cited the Russian cruise missile Kh-101 as a prime example, claiming it contains parts made by Japanese semiconductor and electronics companies.
He also noted that Japanese components were found in Iranian-made Shahed drones, which Russia is mass-producing, as well as in the kamikaze drone Lancet and the reconnaissance drone Mohajer-6 provided by Iran.
However, Ukrainian officials did not definitively state that these components were exported directly from Japan to Russia. Blasiuk suggested that it is highly likely that dual-use electronic components intended for civilian products were re-exported to Russia via China or Central Asian countries. He urged the Japanese government to enhance checks on end-users and tighten controls on indirect exports.
According to Kyodo News, Blasiuk mentioned 13 Japanese companies in this context. These companies reportedly responded that they could not confirm the claims or stated that they do not sell with the intention of military use.
This controversy arises as Japan seeks to expand its drone production capabilities. The Portuguese defense drone startup Tekever plans to establish a production base in Japan and target the Asian market. Tekever announced it will select a factory site in Japan within months and is expected to sign a sales agency agreement with the major Japanese trading company Marubeni.
Tekever's drones are designed for information gathering, surveillance, and reconnaissance, capable of flying over 2,000 kilometers on a single charge. They are reportedly operable in environments with electronic jamming and GPS disruption, based on data accumulated from the battlefield in Ukraine.
The Japanese government is also revising its three principles on defense equipment transfers to ease restrictions on defense exports. With government approval, it is expected that drones produced in Japan will be eligible for overseas export.
As Japan expands its role as a hub for drone production and exports, the responsibility for managing the supply chain of components will inevitably increase. Given the claims of Japanese parts being found in Russian weapons, the Japanese government and companies face the challenge of strengthening control systems to verify end-users and prevent indirect exports to third countries while fostering the defense industry.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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