The international intelligence community InformNapalm, in cooperation with the Fenix Cyber Center, conducted a multi-level operation against the Russian company OKBM, which specializes in the production of components for strategic aviation and spacecraft.
As a result, access was gained to internal systems and classified documentation that had been used for months in the interests of the Ukrainian Defense Forces and their allies.
The exposed materials included documents related to the production of components for the PAK DA Poslannik strategic bomber and the next-generation Su-57 and Su-75 fighter jets.
The documents contain technical specifications for products under the code 80RSh115 for the Poslannik-1 PAK DA – hydraulic actuators for opening bomb bay doors.
The contract between PJSC Tupolev and OKBM classifies this information as a state secret, and its disclosure could lead to termination of the agreement.
Diagram from the documentation of the RSh gearbox model with technical specifications. Photo credits: InformNapalm
Also released was Supplementary Agreement No. 7, which sets the deadlines for the work’s stages for 2024–2027.
Internal OKBM correspondence revealed documents concerning RSh-65 hinge gearboxes for the Su-57 fighter jet. Their development is also being carried out under the state defense procurement controlled by the Russian Ministry of Defense.
Analysis of the internal documentation indicates that Russia is unable to independently manufacture parts for the new aviation systems.
Scheduled timelines for the stages of work during the period from 2024 to 2027. Photo credits: InformNapalm
Production is critically dependent on imported CNC machines, the procurement of which has been complicated by sanctions.
The documents mention Taiwanese Hartford HCMC-1100AG and Johnford SL-50 machines, as well as the Serbian Grindex BSD-700U CNC. Their purchase was funded by subsidies from the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade, confirming state-supported sanction evasion.
An audit of OKBM found that delays in aircraft manufacturing programs are linked to a shortage of machine tools resulting from global manufacturers withdrawing from the Russian market.
On October 23, 2025, OKBM was officially included in the 19th package of EU sanctions. This was a direct consequence of the investigation, which demonstrated OKBM’s strategic role in Russian weapons production and its dependence on imported equipment.
The main challenges facing Su-57 production are Western sanctions, which have blocked access to critical high-tech components such as avionics and microelectronics, and the slow expansion of industrial capacity at the Komsomolsk-on-Amur plant. These issues have led to extremely slow production rates, with only a small number of aircraft built and a widening gap between original production goals and actual output. Russia is seeking workarounds, but production remains hampered by supply chain disruptions and the difficulty of sourcing modern parts.
The Komsomolsk-on-Amur plant, which manufactures the jet, has limited capacity, resulting in bottlenecks on the production line.
The combination of sanctions and the war in Ukraine has caused significant disruptions to the supply chain, making it challenging to obtain necessary parts.
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