Bloomberg: South African authorities investigate how equipment made in the country got into Russian drones
Photo: Harpy-A1 / GUR

The South African authorities are investigating how electronics manufactured in the country ended up in Russian drones used by the aggressor country to attack Ukraine. About writes Bloomberg.

This is a laser rangefinder created by Lightware Optoelectronics, a company based near Pretoria (the capital of South Africa). The device can measure distance and trigger detonation.

Ukrainian intelligence discovered this device in a Russian Harpy-A1 drone, a kamikaze drone modeled after the Iranian Shahed-136.

Lightware stated that its equipment was not for military use, and that it could have been smuggled into Russia through "unscrupulous intermediaries" who resold the equipment without the manufacturer's knowledge.

According to South African law, exports of arms or dual-use goods to countries engaged in hostilities are possible only with the permission of the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC).

"The business entity in question is not registered to trade in ammunition and dual-use goods and technologies," said Sipho Mashaba, a top NCACC executive.

Lightware sensors are used in self-driving cars, the mining industry, and even for monitoring in the wild. Their small size makes them suitable for drones. On the company's website, the SF-20/C model is sold for $279.