Chinese specialists have visited Russia multiple times to assist in the development of military drones at IEMZ Kupol, a state-owned Russian arms manufacturer under Western sanctions, according to documents reviewed by Reuters and confirmed by two European security officials.
The Chinese experts reportedly made more than half a dozen trips to Kupol since the second quarter of 2024. During this period, the manufacturer also received shipments of Chinese-made attack and surveillance drones via a Russian intermediary, according to the same sources.
In September 2024, Reuters previously reported that Kupol had developed a new drone, the Garpiya-3, in collaboration with Chinese specialists. The latest documents provide more detailed insight into the ongoing involvement of Chinese personnel in technical and flight-testing work on Russian military drones.
The European officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the information, said the collaboration indicates a deepening relationship between Russian arms makers and Chinese drone companies—technology increasingly critical to Russia’s operations in Ukraine.
China’s Foreign Ministry said it was unaware of the cooperation. “China has always maintained an objective and fair position on the question of the Ukraine crisis, never providing lethal weapons to any party in the conflict and strictly controlling dual-use items, including drone exports,” it said.
Kupol, the Kremlin, and the Russian Defence Ministry did not respond to requests for comment.
Shipments and Collaborations
Documents, including invoices and bank statements reviewed by Reuters, show that Kupol received over a dozen one-way attack drones last year produced by Chinese manufacturer Sichuan AEE. The drones were supplied through Russian procurement company TSK Vektor, which is subject to U.S. and EU sanctions.
Reuters previously reported that Kupol was producing thousands of Garpiya attack drones using Chinese components, including engines. Modeled on Iran’s Shahed drone, these “one-way” drones can fly hundreds of miles to pre-programmed targets before self-destructing. Ukrainian officials estimate that around 500 are deployed monthly in the conflict.
European officials told Reuters that the combination of Chinese drone shipments and on-site technical support could signal Kupol’s intention to expand production to new drone models. However, Reuters could not independently verify the precise purpose of the deliveries or the full scope of work conducted by Chinese experts.
Second Chinese Manufacturer Involved
Documents also show Kupol tested drones supplied by Hunan Haotianyi, a second Chinese drone manufacturer. A flight test report approved by Kupol and TSK Vektor assessed the performance of Hunan Haotianyi’s HW52V vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone, which can be used for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike missions.
Airline records reviewed by Reuters indicate that Liu Mingxing, CEO of Hunan Haotianyi, traveled alongside TSK Vektor’s head of drones during a visit to Russia, suggesting close collaboration.
European security officials believe the Chinese visitors were Hunan Haotianyi staff, though Reuters could not independently confirm this. Documents indicate their work involved adapting a Chinese flight control computer and engine for the Garpiya drone, and later development of a new model, the GA-21—a drone reportedly similar to Iran’s Shahed-107.
Samuel Bendett, an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, told Reuters, “There is just such an enormous role and influence of Chinese components in Russian military systems, especially in aerial drones.”
