Chinese Drone Experts Collaborate with Russian Manufacturer
According to reports from Reuters, a group of Chinese drone specialists recently traveled to Russia to collaborate on military drones with Iemz Kupol, a weapons manufacturer under US sanctions imposed in 2023.
IEMZ KUPOL, or the Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant Kupol, has connections to JSC aerospace defense concerns, specifically involving the state-owned Almaz-Antey.
Kupol was included among more than 150 individuals and organizations sanctioned by the US Treasury in December 2023 for their support of Russia’s ongoing military actions in Ukraine. The company has been authorized to produce anti-aircraft defensive systems for the Russian military and assist in the development of one-way attack drones for the Ministry of Defense.
Kupol maintains production of thousands of Ghapiya drones, a variant of Iran’s well-known Shahed suicide drones. The Ukrainian military reports that these Russian drones are being deployed in significant numbers, attacking Ukrainian targets daily.
Documents reviewed by Reuters indicate that Chinese experts in drone technology have visited numerous Kupol facilities since early 2024.
Additionally, Kupol purportedly received a shipment of suicide drones developed by Sichuan AEE, a Chinese company. Evidence suggests that the drones were delivered to Russia through various intermediaries.
One document revealed plans for Chinese technical specialists to visit the Kupol facility in Izhevsk to instruct Russian personnel on the assembly and operation of these drones. Although the engineers were reportedly affiliated with a Russian firm, TSK Vektor, European officials have indicated they are, in fact, affiliated with Sichuan AEE.
The collaboration points toward the Garpiya-3, or G3, the latest iteration of the Shahed drones. The Xiamen Limbach Aircraft Engine Company in China is responsible for producing engines for this drone model, while various crucial components, such as data processing systems, appear to originate from China as well. Final assembly of each drone occurs in Russia.
Interestingly, the G3 boasts a significantly enhanced range compared to earlier models, enabling it to engage targets up to 1,200 miles away. In contrast, earlier versions had a maximum range of approximately 930 miles.
Documents suggest that Kupol is contemplating a shift away from traditional Kamikaze drone designs, with some of the Chinese-supplied drones being reusable surveillance platforms capable of carrying armaments. Correspondence within these documents discussed a joint project between engineers from both nations, leading to the creation of a new drone known as the GA-21.
Efforts to reach representatives from the Kremlin, the Russian Ministry of Defense, or Iemz Kupol for comments on these developments have been unsuccessful. Meanwhile, China’s Foreign Ministry reportedly stated it was unaware of any drone collaboration with Russia.
