Russia Repurchases Military Parts Exported to Asia

Based on the analysis of customs clearance data conducted by journalists, it has been observed that Russian defence industry manufacturers are repurchasing equipment that they had previously manufactured and exported to customers in Asia.

In December 2022, Uralvagonzavod, the manufacturer of tanks for the Russian military, imported its own products from the Myanmar army, totaling $24 million in value.

The equipment that was reimported consisted of more than 6,000 sighting telescopes and approximately 200 cameras, intended for installation in tanks. Analysts interviewed by Nikkei Asia suggested that these components could potentially be utilised to modernise Russia's existing stock of T-72 tanks that are currently in storage.

Likewise, in August and November, a Russian missile manufacturer acquired its own components from the Indian defence ministry, with a total value of $150,000. These components were specifically intended for night-vision sights on anti-air missiles.

The analysis of customs clearance data by Nikkei Asia indicated that the components were returned to Russia due to being defective. However, analysts interviewed by the publication expressed scepticism about defects being the reason for the buybacks, citing the large quantity of military products involved in the imports and the timing as factors that made defects an unlikely cause.

Nikkei Asia reported that there are no records of items being returned to their original buyers after undergoing repairs during the same period.

Following its invasion of Ukraine last year, the Russian military has experienced significant losses in terms of equipment. Additionally, the imposition of Western sanctions on Moscow's defence industry has posed challenges to replenishing their depleted stocks.

Oryx, an open-source intelligence analysis website, has reported that Russia's army has incurred over 2,000 tank casualties during the invasion.