Russia teams up with China for drone production to bolster war against Ukraine, says intelligence sources 

Russia has set up a weapons programme in China to develop and manufacture long-range attack drones for use in its war against Ukraine, according to sources from a European intelligence agency and documents reviewed by Reuters.

The documents reveal that IEMZ Kupol, a subsidiary of the Russian state-owned weapons company Almaz-Antey, has developed and tested a new drone model, the Garpiya-3 (G3), with the help of Chinese specialists. A report from Kupol to the Russian defence ministry earlier this year outlined the company’s progress, including the ability to produce the G3 drones at scale in China for deployment in Ukraine, referred to by Moscow as the “special military operation.”

Neither Kupol, Almaz-Antey, nor the Russian defence ministry responded to requests for comment. China’s foreign ministry stated it was unaware of the project and emphasized its strict control measures on the export of drones.

Fabian Hinz, a research fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, noted that the confirmed delivery of whole drones from China to Russia would mark a significant development. Until now, China has been known to supply only dual-use goods, such as components that could be utilized in weapon systems.

However, Samuel Bendett, from the Center for a New American Security, pointed out that China might be cautious about facilitating Russia’s military efforts, given the risk of international sanctions.

The G3 drones reportedly have a range of around 2,000 kilometres with a payload of 50 kilograms, and samples have already been delivered to Russia for further testing. Kupol has received seven military drones made in China, including two G3s, according to documents reviewed by Reuters. These documents, including invoices from a Russian intermediary firm, suggest that whole UAVs manufactured in China have been delivered to Russia since the Ukraine war began.

Kupol’s reports also indicate that the company plans to produce a more advanced Chinese-designed attack UAV, the REM 1, with a payload of 400 kilograms. European intelligence sources said this drone could be comparable to the U.S. Reaper drone.

There are also plans to establish a joint Russian-Chinese drone research and production center in the Kashgar special economic zone in China’s Xinjiang province, although details remain unclear.

While China has consistently denied supplying Russia with weapons for use in Ukraine, the new revelations suggest that Russia may be circumventing Western sanctions by producing drones in China, potentially granting it access to advanced technologies and expertise. Despite this, experts believe Beijing remains cautious about exposing itself to harsher international sanctions.

The increasing reliance on drones has intensified as both Russia and Ukraine ramp up production, with Russian President Vladimir Putin recently announcing plans to increase drone output tenfold this year.