SUPPLY CHAIN
SOURCING COMPONENTS IN EUROPE
| Component | EU Supplier | Lead Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jetson Orin Nano | Arrow EU, Mouser EU | 3-7 days | ECCN export restrictions — verify compliance |
| FPV parts (FC, ESC, motors) | drone-fpv-racer.com, n-factory.de | 2-5 days | EU warehouse, no customs |
| RadioMaster controllers | radiomasterrc.com (direct), Amazon EU | 5-10 days | Direct from manufacturer or EU stock |
| Cameras (Arducam, Infiray) | Amazon EU, Mouser EU | 3-7 days | Check sensor version (IMX477 not IMX477-M12) |
| Starlink Mini | starlink.com | 1-3 weeks | Subscription required. Check coverage area |
| LiPo batteries | drone-fpv-racer.com, Tattu EU | 2-5 days | Hazmat shipping restrictions — ground only |
Bulk Procurement — Component Supply
For units procuring 10+ drones, contact distributors directly for volume pricing. Arrow and Mouser offer project pricing for Jetson modules at 100+ quantity. FPV parts from n-factory.de and drone-fpv-racer.com offer reduced pricing on bulk orders. LiPo batteries must ship ground (hazmat) — plan 5-10 day lead time for large orders.
Sanctions and Restrictions
Verify all components against current EU sanctions lists. Some Chinese-manufactured components (DJI, certain radio modules) may face restrictions depending on end-use classification. NVIDIA Jetson modules have ECCN restrictions — the distributor handles export compliance but verify your country and end-use are eligible. ELRS hardware is open-source and generally unrestricted, but verify local radio frequency regulations (300 MHz (mil-band) EU, 915 MHz Americas).
Procurement Timeline
| Component | EU Supplier | Lead Time | Unit Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jetson Orin Nano Super | Arrow EU / Mouser EU | 3-7 days | €230 |
| Silvus SL5200 MANET | Direct from Silvus / Alpha56 (EU) | 2-4 weeks | Contact for pricing |
| Arducam IMX477 | Amazon EU / Mouser | 2-5 days | €30 |
| Infiray T2S+ thermal | Amazon EU / AliExpress | 5-14 days | €250 |
| Pixhawk 6C | Holybro direct / drone-fpv-racer.com | 3-7 days | €120 |
| FPV components | drone-fpv-racer.com / n-factory.de | 2-5 days | See §1.0 BOM |
| LiPo batteries | drone-fpv-racer.com / Tattu EU | 3-7 days (ground only) | €30-80/pack |
| Starlink Mini | starlink.com | 1-3 weeks | ~€300 + subscription |
Critical path item: Silvus MANET radios (2-4 weeks). Order these first. Everything else arrives within 1 week from EU stock. For urgent deployment: all non-Silvus components can be sourced from Amazon EU with next-day delivery in most EU countries.
Related Chapters
← Del av Component Architecture
The component supply chain for FSG-A drone systems prioritizes EU-based suppliers with short delivery times. Supply chain resilience requires identifying at least two suppliers for every critical component. The supply chain critical path is Silvus MANET radio at 2-4 weeks lead time.
Critical Single Points of Failure
The FSG-A supply chain analysis identifies three components with zero European manufacturing alternatives. Brushless drone motors (Emax ECO II 2207): 100 percent manufactured in China. No European factory produces FPV-class brushless motors. If Chinese exports are restricted (trade sanctions, conflict in the Taiwan Strait, or political decision), motor supply stops entirely within 4-6 weeks as distributor stock depletes. Mitigation: Swedish Armed Forces should establish a strategic stockpile of 5,000 motors (18 months of brigade consumption at moderate intensity) and fund development of European motor manufacturing through FMV innovation programs.
LiPo battery cells: all high-discharge cells (30C+) suitable for FPV drones are manufactured in China (CNHL, Gaoneng) or South Korea (Samsung SDI, LG Chem). European cell manufacturers focus on automotive and grid storage — different chemistry optimized for cycle life rather than discharge rate. Silvus StreamCaster MANET radios: manufactured by Silvus Technologies in Los Angeles, USA. Subject to ITAR export controls. If US export policy changes (new administration, diplomatic dispute, or technology transfer restrictions), Silvus radios become unavailable. The only alternative at comparable capability is Israeli (Rafael BNET) — also subject to export controls. European MANET development (Thales, Rohde & Schwarz) exists but at significantly higher cost and lower demonstrated field performance.
Sources
See the categorized source sections earlier on this page for specific citations supporting each claim. Cross-referenced technical baselines: ArduPilot developer documentation; ExpressLRS hardware documentation; NATO STANAG 4609 Ed. 4 (motion imagery metadata), 4671 (UAV airworthiness), 2022 (intelligence evaluation); Watling & Reynolds, "Meatgrinder: Russian Tactics in the Second Year of Its Invasion of Ukraine", RUSI (2023); ISW daily campaign assessments at understandingwar.org (archive). FSG-A has no own operational experience.