Canada probing how its parts ended up in Iranian drones used by Russia on Ukraine

Canadian authorities are investigating how Canadian-made parts made it into Iranian drones used by Russia to attack Ukraine, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday.
1 min read
06 December, 2022
Iranian-made drones have wreaked destruction in Ukraine [SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty]

Canadian authorities are investigating how Canadian-made parts made it into Iranian drones used by Russia to attack Ukraine, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday.

Local media reported that European think-tank Statewatch and authorities in Kyiv found antenna components from Ottawa-based Tallysman Wireless - among 30 parts produced by Western companies - in Iranian-made Shahed 136 drones that are part of Russia's arsenal.

"We're obviously extremely concerned about those reports," Trudeau said. "We do not want (Canadian technologies) used in Russia's illegal war in Ukraine or Iran's contribution to that (war)."

He cited strict enforcement of export permits for sensitive technologies.

"We're going to be following up with this company," Trudeau said, "to try and figure out exactly how items that were not supposed to get into the hands of anyone like the Iranian government actually ended up there."

Tallysman Wireless, he added, was "fully cooperating" with the investigation.

Ottawa has recently sanctioned several Iranian drone makers.