>Chinese suppliers are playing a key role in providing Russia with components for the production of attack drones used in its war against Ukraine, Bloomberg reported on July 8, citing documents reviewed by the outlet.
>According to a 2023 report by Ukrainian intelligence, 92% of all foreign components found in Russian drones originate from China. These parts include electronics, cameras, engines, antennas, and navigation modules.
>The components are supplied both directly and through intermediary networks that include companies based in Hong Kong, Türkiye, and the United Arab Emirates. Some of the Chinese suppliers involved are major manufacturers that officially claim to operate solely in the civilian sector. In some cases, the parts are delivered to Russia disguised as equipment for agricultural or aerial photography purposes.
>The report says drones containing Chinese parts are assembled at Russian facilities, including sites in Tatarstan and Izhevsk. Production includes both Iranian-licensed models like the Shahed/Geran series and locally adapted versions.
>The data is based on analysis of downed drones, shipping records, and financial transactions. The report identifies specific Chinese companies and details multi-million-dollar contracts. It also notes that Chinese components have enabled Russia to scale up serial production, improve drone guidance accuracy, and adapt drones for use in environments with strong electronic warfare interference.
Implessive!:
https://english.nv.ua/russian-war/chinese-components-fueling-russia-s-drone-production-for-war-on-ukraine-bloomberg-50528018.html