Russia has initiated a weapons program in China aimed at the development and production of long-range attack drones intended for use in the conflict in Ukraine, as reported by two sources from a European intelligence agency.

IEMZ Kupol, a subsidiary of the Russian state-owned defense firm Almaz-Antey, has successfully developed and conducted flight tests of a new drone model named Garpiya-3 (G3) in collaboration with local experts in China, according to one of the documents, which is a report submitted by Kupol to the Russian defense ministry earlier this year detailing its activities.

In a follow-up report to the defense ministry, Kupol indicated that it had the capability to manufacture drones, including the G3, in large quantities at a facility in China, enabling their deployment in the “special military operation” in Ukraine, a term used by Moscow to refer to the conflict.

Neither Kupol, Almaz-Antey, nor the Russian defense ministry responded to requests for comments regarding this matter. The Chinese foreign ministry informed Reuters that it was unaware of such a project and emphasized that the country maintains strict controls over the export of drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Fabian Hinz, a research fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a defense think tank located in London, indicated that the potential transfer of UAVs from China to Russia, if verified, would represent a notable shift. He remarked to Reuters, “Historically, China’s contributions have primarily consisted of dual-use items—components and sub-components that can be integrated into weapon systems. This has been the extent of reported deliveries thus far. However, there has been a lack of documented evidence in open sources regarding the transfer of complete weapon systems.”

Conversely, Samuel Bendett, an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) in Washington, expressed that China would likely be cautious about exposing itself to international sanctions by aiding Russia’s military efforts. He emphasized the need for further information to confirm whether China is facilitating the production of Russian military drones.

The U.S. State Department and the Ukrainian government did not provide comments upon request. American officials expressed concerns last week regarding what they described as Chinese support for Russia’s military operations, but they refrained from offering specific details.

The G3 drone is reported to have a range of approximately 2,000 kilometers while carrying a payload of 50 kilograms, as indicated in the Kupol reports submitted to the ministry. Samples of the G3, along with other drone models produced in China, have been sent to Kupol in Russia for additional testing, with the participation of Chinese experts, according to their statements.

The documents do not disclose the identities of the Chinese drone specialists involved in the outlined project, and Reuters has been unable to ascertain their names.

Kupol has received seven military drones manufactured in China, including two G3 units, at its facility in Izhevsk, Russia. This information comes from two separate documents reviewed by Reuters, which are invoices sent to Kupol during the summer by a Russian company identified by two European intelligence sources as acting as an intermediary with Chinese suppliers. The invoices, one of which requests payment in Chinese yuan, do not provide delivery dates or specify the Chinese suppliers.

According to the two intelligence sources, the arrival of these sample drones at Kupol marks the first tangible evidence their agency has discovered of complete UAVs produced in China being delivered to Russia since the onset of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022. They requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the information and asked that specific details regarding the documents, including their exact dates, be kept confidential.

“double standards on arms sales”

Reuters has obtained five documents, including two reports from Kupol to the ministry from the first half of the year and two invoices, which support claims of a Russian initiative in China aimed at producing drones for deployment in Ukraine. This program has not been previously disclosed.

The reports submitted by Kupol did not specify exact locations for the project sites, and Reuters could not confirm whether the defense ministry authorized the company to commence the proposed serial production.

China has consistently denied allegations that it or its companies have provided Russia with weapons for use in Ukraine, asserting its neutral stance. In response to inquiries for this article, the foreign ministry stated that China’s position contrasts with other nations that exhibit “double standards on arms sales,” which it claims have exacerbated the Ukrainian crisis.

Earlier this month, the ministry noted that there are no international restrictions on China’s trade with Russia, addressing a Reuters report that Kupol had begun producing the Garpiya-A1 long-range military drone in Russia utilizing Chinese engines and components.

The newly revealed documents suggest that state-owned Kupol has advanced its efforts by acquiring complete UAVs from China. Both Russia and Ukraine are intensifying their drone production, recognizing their effectiveness in the ongoing conflict.

David Albright, a former U.N. weapons inspector and head of the Institute for Science and International Security, which has extensively researched Chinese and Russian collaboration in drone production, informed Reuters that Kupol might evade Western sanctions on Russia by establishing a production facility in China, thereby gaining access to advanced chips and technical expertise.

Bendett from CNAS indicated that Beijing must proceed with caution: “The existence of an officially recognized factory producing UAVs for Russia could subject China to significant sanctions, making it uncertain how much risk China is willing to take.”

COMPARABLE TO U.S. REAPER DRONE?

According to reports from Kupol sent to the defense ministry, the G3 is an enhanced version of the Garpiya-A1 drone, redesigned by Chinese specialists using the original blueprints.

Kupol announced that within eight months, a Chinese-designed REM 1 attack UAV, capable of carrying a 400kg payload, would be ready for production. Two European intelligence sources noted that this system would resemble the U.S. Reaper drone.

The sources also mentioned that TSK Vektor, another Russian defense company, served as the intermediary between Kupol and Chinese suppliers for this project. They indicated that the Russian firms collaborated with a Shenzhen-based company named Redlepus TSK Vector Industrial, although the specific role of Redlepus was not detailed.

Neither TSK Vektor nor Redlepus responded to inquiries for comments.

A separate document reviewed by Reuters outlines plans involving Kupol, TSK Vektor, and Redlepus to create a joint Russian-Chinese drone research and production center in the Kashgar special economic zone in Xinjiang province, China.

Reuters could not ascertain the document’s origin, which featured the logos of the three companies, nor identify the intended recipient. The proposed “Advanced UAV Research and Manufacturing Base,” spanning 80 hectares, is projected to produce 800 drones annually, although no operational timeline was provided.

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that his military had acquired approximately 140,000 drones in 2023, with plans to increase that number tenfold this year. “The side that responds more swiftly to battlefield demands will prevail,” he remarked during a meeting in St. Petersburg focused on drone production.