According to two anonymous sources from a European intelligence agency and documents reviewed by Reuters, Russia has established a weapons program in China to develop and produce long-range offensive drones for use in the war against Ukraine. On Wednesday, Reuters reported that, based on one of the documents reviewed, the IEMZ Kupol company, a subsidiary of the Russian state arms manufacturer Almaz-Antey, has tested a new drone named Garpiya-3 (G3) in China with the help of local specialists. According to Reuters, Kupol detailed this operation in a report sent to the Russian Ministry of Defense earlier this year. The company later informed the Ministry of Defense that it could produce drones like the G3 on an industrial scale in China for use in "special military operations" in Ukraine. Moscow refers to its military aggression against Ukraine as a special military operation. Additionally, Reuters reported on September 14 that Russia had begun producing a long-range offensive drone called Garpiya-1 last year using Chinese components and engines. Kupol, Almaz-Antey, and the Russian Ministry of Defense did not respond to Reuters' requests for comments prior to the publication of this report. However, the Chinese Foreign Ministry claimed to the news agency that it was unaware of this project and that Beijing has strict controls on drone exports. The U.S. National Security Council expressed deep concern over Reuters' report regarding Russia's secret drone program, which appears to be an example of lethal assistance from a Chinese company to a Russian company under U.S. sanctions. Russia has previously used drones made by the Islamic Republic of Iran to attack Ukraine, an action that has raised international concerns and led to new sanctions against Tehran and Moscow. The foreign ministers of Israel and Ukraine discussed the missile cooperation between Iran and Russia. Ukraine has shot down over 40 Russian drones in various regions. Britain has imposed new sanctions against Iran's military industries. The G7 condemned the transfer of ballistic missiles from Iran to Russia. The delivery of hundreds of Iranian "Fateh 360" missiles to Russia has been described by the U.S. as a "very destabilizing" development.
Reuters: Russia has launched a secret program for long-range offensive drone production in China
Russia has initiated a secret program in China to produce long-range offensive drones for its military operations in Ukraine, as reported by Reuters. This development raises concerns about the collaboration between Russian and Chinese defense industries amidst ongoing international sanctions. The implications of this partnership could further escalate tensions in the region and affect global security dynamics.
👥 Key Players
⚡ Actions
📰 What Happened
Russia established a drone production program in China for Ukraine conflict, raising international concerns.
- Russia announce China
- IEMZ Kupol produce long-range offensive drones
- United States National Security Council sanction Russia, China
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The collaboration between Russia and China on drone production could destabilize the geopolitical landscape.
📝 Key Evidence
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%