Russia created secret project in China to produce military drones
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin (Getty Images)
Russia has developed and begun production of long-range strike drones in China, intended for use in the war against Ukraine, according to Reuters.
The Russian company IEMZ Kupol, a subsidiary of the state corporation Almaz-Antey, developed a drone called the Garpiya-3 (G3) and conducted flight tests with the participation of Chinese specialists.
Subsequently, Kupol informed the Russian Ministry of Defense that it had established mass production of the drones at a factory in China for use in the war against Ukraine.
Chinese authorities have said that they are not aware of such projects, emphasizing strict control over the export of military products, including unmanned aerial vehicles.
Analysts say that if the supply of Chinese drones is confirmed, it would be a significant development. According to Fabian Hinz, an expert at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, until now China has supplied Russia with dual-use goods but not complete weapons systems.
The Garpiya-3 drone can cover around 2,000 kilometers with a 50 kg payload, according to Kupol’s reports. Samples of the G3 and some other Chinese-made drone models were delivered to Russia’s Kupol for further testing.
According to documents reviewed by Reuters, Kupol received seven Chinese-manufactured military drones, including two G3 drones, at its headquarters in the Russian city of Izhevsk.
Two European intelligence sources have said that the delivery of these drone samples to Kupol marked the first concrete evidence since the start of the war in Ukraine in February 2022 that their agency had identified entire UAV systems manufactured in China and supplied to Russia.
China's stance on Russia’s war against Ukraine
China continues to claim a neutral stance in the war between Russia and Ukraine, while expressing support for Ukraine’s sovereignty. At the same time, Beijing is actively developing economic cooperation with Moscow.
Although China officially does not supply weapons to Russia, its companies sell dual-use goods, which can be used for military purposes.
Previously, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged China to halt the supply of such goods to Russia and hinted at the possibility of increased sanctions.
Additionally, Chinese President Xi Jinping recently emphasized the need to create conditions for a political resolution to the "Ukrainian crisis", as Beijing refers to Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine.
