China to supply Russia with drone equipment for deep strikes on Ukraine — The Insider

A correspondent for The Insider in Ukraine examined the Xingkai Tech mesh modem found in the Gerbera drone.

Posing as a Russian military supplier, the investigator obtained evidence that this Chinese manufacturer is willing to knowingly sell modems to a factory in Alabuga—located in Russia's so-called economic zone.

The agency notes that mesh networks are the most practical technology for controlling Russian long-range drones over Ukraine. Using this system, Russian drones can be manually controlled and receive commands during flight, exploiting gaps in Ukraine's air defense.

According to The Insider's estimates, Xingkai Tech holds about half of the market for high-performance mesh modems for the Gerbera and Geran systems, so the company's supplies are critically important to Russian military equipment manufacturers.

Mesh modems cost

When journalists asked for a quote on the cost of supplying 500 devices to Alabuga, the manufacturer issued an invoice for 19.5 million yuan. That is approximately $2.87 million.

Despite the fact that potential buyers explicitly stated the equipment's military purpose, the Chinese company continued to discuss the deal. They suggested using accounts at DBS Bank, Ping An Bank, and China Merchants Bank for payment.

According to The Insider's estimates, Shenzhen Xingkai Technology accounts for about half of the market for high-performance mesh modems designed for Russian drones such as the Geran and Gerbera.

How mesh modems help Russian drones

A mesh network is a communication system in which devices can transmit data to one another via intermediate nodes. Thanks to this, drones are able to act as signal repeaters and maintain communication with aircraft that are outside the operator's direct line of sight.

These modems facilitate the transmission of commands between drones, particularly during flights deep into Ukrainian territory. This allows drones to maintain communication with one another at a distance when a direct communication channel with the operator is unavailable.

According to the investigation, Chinese components are a key part of the communication systems used in Russian attack drones.

In April, military officials noted that the use of MESH modems in the control of Shahed and Gerbera drones allowed Russia to conduct more in-depth reconnaissance and expand its zone of control.