Did Iran Use an Israeli Lens in its Suicide Drones?

The Wall Street Journal: Israel is reviewing the findings; Majority of Iranian UAV parts made in U.S., Europe, allied nations.

By JNS.org

A high-resolution telescopic infrared lens found in Iranian-made Mohajer-6 unmanned aerial vehicles in Ukraine appear identical to lenses made by an Israeli firm, The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.

The lenses, used for surveillance and targeting, look like those made by Israeli company Ophir Optronics Solutions Ltd., the report said, based on “photos of the device in the Mohajer-6 and corporate brochures.”

While Ophir Optronics declined to comment, its parent company, MKS Instruments Inc., said that it does not sell to Iran and that it complies with international export controls and sanctions.

The report quoted the Israeli Defense Ministry as saying that it is reviewing the findings.

“A preliminary review of the relevant international export control regimes indicates that the lens is neither a controlled defense item nor a dual-use item, according to Israeli law based on international arrangements,” said the Defense Ministry.

The report found that a majority of Iranian UAV components “are manufactured by companies in the U.S., Europe and other allied nations, stoking concern among Western officials and analysts and prompting a U.S. government investigation.”

Ukrainian intelligence assessed that three-quarters of the components of the Iranian drones that have been downed in Ukraine are American-made, the report stated.