Russia Produces New Garpiya-A1 Drones with Chinese Parts

Russia has developed a new long-range attack drone called Garpiya-A1, utilizing Chinese-made engines and components, marking a significant shift in its military strategy away from reliance on Iranian designs. Produced by IEMZ Kupol, a subsidiary of Almaz-Antey, over 2,500 units of the Garpiya have been manufactured between July 2023 and July 2024, with deployment against military and civilian targets in Ukraine already reported. The drone closely resembles Iranian-designed Shahed drones but features unique design elements and Limbach L-550 E engines produced by the Chinese company Xiamen Limbach. European intelligence has indicated that these developments suggest an increasing collaboration between Chinese and Russian manufacturers in weapons production. Visual evidence of drone wreckage in Ukraine has been cited, though independent verification by Reuters remains unconfirmed. Analysts note that this shift enhances Russia's capabilities, potentially reducing its previous dependence on Iranian drone technology.