Chinese Drone Experts Support Russian Military Drone Development Amid Western Sanctions

Chinese drone experts have been actively collaborating with Russia's state-owned weapons manufacturer IEMZ Kupol, assisting in the development and testing of military drones despite Western sanctions, according to European security officials and documents reviewed by Reuters. This partnership includes shipments of Chinese-made attack and reconnaissance drones, such as the Garpiya series, which are based on Iran's Shahed design, signaling China's significant role in enhancing Russia's drone capabilities for its conflict in Ukraine. Although China's foreign ministry denies awareness of this cooperation and maintains a neutral stance, the involvement suggests a deepening military-technical relationship between Chinese and Russian entities, raising concerns internationally. Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces have innovated by utilizing commercial and custom-built drones equipped with advanced technologies like fiber-optic communication to improve battlefield intelligence and precision strikes, exemplified by their effective use in targeting Russian positions. Ukrainian officials have also gamified drone warfare to increase operational effectiveness, with drones accounting for a majority of battlefield casualties in the ongoing conflict. This dynamic underscores the crucial role of drone technology in the Ukraine war, with both Russian and Ukrainian sides leveraging different aspects of unmanned aerial systems for military advantage.