The Russian machine learning technology Neuton, created in Penza, ended up with the Norwegian chip manufacturer Nordic Semiconductor – a key supplier of components for drones and tactical communications. According to “Gazeta.ru”, the platform was removed from the perimeter of “Bell Integrator” before the deal with “Softline” and resold to the Norwegians through an American entity. The patent for the technology, registered in the US, contains the wording “Military industry and aeronautics”.
Neuton allows creating neural networks of several kilobytes in size, operating on microcontrollers without a cloud and the internet. Such models are ideal for devices with limited computing resources: sensors, wearable electronics, coordination of drone groups. According to Softline's estimates, the value of the deal to divest the asset could reach $50 million – more than the entire purchase price of Bell Integrator ($38.3 million). Currently, an arbitration for 1.17 billion rubles and an FSTEC inspection are underway regarding the technology.
In Russia, such developments fall under export control, and their export abroad requires special permission. If there was no license, the deal may be declared void, and the technology subject to return. Softline has already contacted law enforcement agencies and initiated an investigation into the use of Nordic Semiconductor technology in UAVs used against the interests of the Russian Federation. Experts identify three potentially military classes of tasks: unattended ground sensors that recognize footsteps and shots, soldier wearable electronics, and coordination of drone groups without base stations.