A Russian Kartograf drone which operates thanks to Iridium products as well as other components manufactured in Japan and Germany.
According to the investigation by Trap Aggressor, a Ukrainian watchdog investigating Russia sanctions compliance for Western companies, a Russian military company producing drones still uses navigation systems made by the American Iridium, a global satellite communications company.
Even during the full-scale war, the businesses did not stop cooperating. One of Iridium’s offices still operates in Moscow, Trap Aggressor claims.
The investigation states that the Russian military company AFM has produced a new modification of a drone with the “Ptero” system, which performs its tasks solely thanks to the navigation system produced by Iridium.
According to trade databases, in 2015-2022, the Russian company Iridium Communications purchased products directly from the US company Iridium Satellite. In 2023, Iridium Communications imported machines made by Iridium Satellite for receiving and converting voice and images indirectly through some unknown intermediaries.
As well, in 2022, Moscow-based Iridium Communications gave access to the international satellite radio communication system to the National Guard of Russia (Rosgvardiya). In March 2022, after the start of Russia’s invasion, one of the founding companies of Iridium Communications, the state-owned enterprise Morsviazsputnik, provided services to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
© 2025, GDC. © GDC and www.globaldefensecorp.com. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to www.globaldefensecorp.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
