Russia has initiated a weapons program in China to develop and manufacture long-range attack drones for its ongoing war in Ukraine, according to two European intelligence sources and documents reviewed by Reuters. IEMZ Kupol, a subsidiary of the Russian state-owned arms company Almaz-Antey, has created and tested a new drone model named Garpiya-3 (G3) in China with the help of local experts.
According to a report sent earlier this year by Kupol to the Russian defense ministry, the company can now mass-produce the G3 drone at a Chinese facility for deployment in the conflict in Ukraine, which Russia refers to as a "special military operation."
Kupol, Almaz-Antey, and the Russian defense ministry declined to comment. Meanwhile, China's foreign ministry stated that it was unaware of such a project and emphasized Beijing’s strict controls over the export of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Fabian Hinz, a research fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, noted that if confirmed, this would mark a significant development in China's involvement, as most Chinese support to Russia has previously been limited to dual-use goods like components rather than complete weapon systems.
Samuel Bendett, an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, said Beijing would likely be cautious about exposing itself to international sanctions by aiding Moscow’s military operations. Further evidence is needed to confirm China’s involvement in producing Russian military drones.
The White House National Security Council expressed concern over the report, noting that it could signify a Chinese company providing lethal assistance to a U.S.-sanctioned Russian firm. They emphasized that the Chinese government is responsible for ensuring its companies don’t support Russia militarily. NATO echoed these concerns, while the UK’s Foreign Office urged China to cease its diplomatic and material support for Russia’s war effort.
Kupol's reports indicate that the G3 drone can carry a payload of 50 kg (110 pounds) and travel up to 2,000 km (1,200 miles). Samples of the G3 and other drones produced in China have been delivered to Kupol for additional testing. Seven military drones, including two G3 models, have been received at Kupol's headquarters in Izhevsk, Russia, according to documents reviewed by Reuters.
These deliveries are considered the first confirmed evidence of whole UAVs from China reaching Russia since the Ukraine war began in February 2022.
The documents also suggest plans for a Russian-Chinese drone research and production facility in China's Kashgar Special Economic Zone. This center, according to one document, could produce 800 drones annually, although no timeline has been provided.
Kupol’s G3 is an upgraded version of the Garpiya-A1 drone, redesigned with Chinese assistance. The project could eventually yield a Chinese-designed REM 1 attack UAV with a 400 kg payload, a system the sources liken to the U.S. Reaper drone. A Russian firm, TSK Vektor, is said to act as an intermediary in this collaboration, working with a Chinese company called Redlepus TSK Vector Industrial. Neither company responded to requests for comment.
As the drone arms race between Russia and Ukraine intensifies, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia had acquired 140,000 drones in 2023 and planned a tenfold increase in production over the coming year.
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