Chinese engineers helped test drones on Russian military grounds, Reuters

Chinese specialists worked at the Kupol plant in Russia

Chinese experts repeatedly visited the Russian defense plant Kupol to work on military drones, said two European sources in the security sector and confirmed by documents obtained by Reuters.

Since last year, Chinese representatives have visited the plant more than half a dozen times. During this period, the plant received shipments of Chinese strike and reconnaissance drones through a Russian intermediary.

Participation of Chinese specialists

Reuters previously reported that Kupol was developing a new Garpiya-3 drone in China with the involvement of local specialists. It has now become known that Chinese engineers also participated in the testing of military drones on Russian territory.

According to sources, the cooperation indicates growing interaction between Kupol and Chinese companies in the drone industry. These devices play a critical role in the war against Ukraine.

Reaction of the parties

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said it was unaware of such cooperation. “"China has always maintained an objective and fair position on the question of the Ukraine crisis, never providing lethal weapons to any party in the conflict and strictly controlling dual-use items, including drone exports,” the ministry said in a statement.

The Kremlin, the Russian Defense Ministry, and the Kupol factory did not respond to requests for comment from Reuters.

Supplies of Chinese drones

Documents show that Kupol received more than a dozen strike drones from the Chinese company Sichuan AEE. The supplies were delivered through the Russian defense structure TSK Vector, which is under US and EU sanctions.

In 2024, the A60, A100, and A200 drones were tested at the Chebarkul training ground in the Chelyabinsk region. Chinese specialists participated in the assembly of the drones in Izhevsk and trained Kupol personnel in their operation.

New models and prospects

Invoices and delivery notes show that AEE supplied drones with a radio-electronic suppression protection system. The contracts were worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Another Chinese company, Hunan Haotianyi, supplied HW52V drones capable of performing reconnaissance and strike missions. European sources believe that specialists from this company were also involved in the work at the Kupol enterprise.

China as part of the supply chain

American expert Samuel Bendett said: “There is just such an enormous role and influence and impact of Chinese components in Russian military systems...especially in aerial drones.”

According to the documents, in 2025, a new GA-21 drone was discussed, which may be a version of the Iranian Shahed-107. It can be used for reconnaissance and strikes.

In July, Reuters published data according to which Chinese engines for drones were secretly supplied to Russia through front companies. They were declared as “industrial refrigeration units” to circumvent Western restrictions.

Vladyslav Vlasiuk, the Ukrainian Presidential Commissioner for Sanctions Policy, said that about 60% of foreign parts found in Russian weapons are supplied from China.