Russian Tornado-S MLRS shells contain components from four countries – Ukraine's intelligence
An analysis of guided missile samples from the Tornado-S multiple launch rocket system, employed by Russian forces against Ukraine, revealed components from manufacturers in China, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland.
The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported this on Facebook.
The studied samples of guided missiles for the "Tornado-S" revealed the simultaneous use of two fiber-optic gyroscopes:
- TIUS500 manufactured by the Russian LLC "NVC "OPTOLINK";
- a foreign-made product without manufacturer markings has indicator seals in Chinese and a visual similarity to the AgileLight gyroscopes of the Chinese manufacturer BWSENSING.
Photo: Ukraine's intelligence
Intelligence reports indicate that the system's simultaneous use of two gyroscopes is designed to enhance targeting accuracy. This is achieved by obtaining dual arrays of data regarding the object's current spatial position.
The foreign and Russian devices have similar structures: they include three-ring Sagnac interferometers located in three orthogonal axes and electronics boards.
The electronics of the Russian block are assembled using the Altera Cyclone field-programmable gate array (FPGA) (USA), while the foreign-made block uses the STMicroelectronics microcontroller (Switzerland).
In addition, the Russian block contains components from manufacturers from:
- the USA (Analog Devices, National Semiconductor, Maxim Integrated),
- the PRC (Panwoo Equipment Consulting, Mornsun),
- Switzerland (STMicroelectronics),
- and the UK (Golledge Electronics).
The complete list of components and photos has already been published on the War&Sanctions portal.
The portal already contains more than 18 thousand objects and subjects in ten sections.
For reference:
Photo: open sources
The Tornado MLRS is a family of Russian multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) of 122 and 300 mm caliber, developed since 2012 by the Tula JSC "NVO Splav" for the Russian Ground Forces to replace older developments – the Grad and Smerch MLRS.
The Tornado is designed primarily for firing cluster munitions, but can also be used for firing thermobaric warheads.
The Tornado family of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) boasts significantly higher combat effectiveness due to an advanced fire control system. This system includes an integrated GLONASS navigator within the launcher and a new computerized ballistic calculator. Such innovations enable MLRS units to automatically engage targets without relying on ballistic calculation stations like Kapustnik or manual mechanical guidance. Additionally, new guided missiles equipped with GLONASS navigation have been developed, allowing these systems to operate similarly to operational-tactical missile weapons.
In addition, the Ukrainian scouts reported that the Russian Federation uses components manufactured by the People's Republic of China and some Western countries, notably Switzerland, the United States, and the Netherlands, to produce the Molniya and Phoenix strike drones.
Ukrainian intelligence officers also revealed the component base of the Russian Gerbera strike drone, which imitates the Shahed drones to overload the Ukrainian air defense.
In particular, Ukraine's intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov stated that Western semiconductor companies do not make sufficient efforts to control their supply chains, which is why components continue to flow in large quantities to Russia, which uses them for its weapons against Ukraine.
