Addressing the Impacts of Proliferator State Advanced Conventional Weapons (ACW)

CTR builds foreign partner capacity to counter proliferator states’ advanced conventional weapons (ACW) procurement and proliferation networks. Proliferator states such as the Russian Federation use the sale of its weapons systems to exert malign influence, exacerbate regional conflicts, and develop strategic defense dependencies. The Russian Federation’s full scale invasion of Ukraine has increased its own demand for additional weapon systems and critical defense technologies. Because of Russia’s inability to produce them locally, Russian weapons systems require the import of advanced Western electronics and components. The Russian Federation’s war in Ukraine has also clearly demonstrated the corruption, failures, and deficiencies inherent in the Russian defense sector. This is causing the Russian Federation to become increasingly dependent on other proliferator states such as the People’s Republic of China (PRC).