Chinese Drone Experts Deploy to Russia, Deepening Collaboration on Military UAVs for Ukraine War. China's Dual Role: Fuelling Russia's War while Powering EU's High-Tech Imports

A Reuters investigation reveals a deepening technological partnership between China and Russia, focused on the development and supply of military drones for the Ukraine conflict. Chinese drone experts have visited the sanctioned Russian arms dealer, IEMZ Kupol, since mid-2023 for joint technical R&D. This cooperation directly facilitates Russia’s production of new UAVs, such as the Garpiya attack drone, which utilizes Chinese components and is based on the Iranian Shahed design.

IEMZ Kupol has also acquired Chinese-made attack drones from Sichuan Aiyi Aviation Technology Co. via Russian intermediaries. This technical and material support provides Russia with crucial military capabilities, while granting the Chinese military an invaluable strategic advantage: the Ukrainian battlefield serves as a "live laboratory" to test and refine its own drone technology against Western defenses, providing top-tier intelligence for future warfare.

This strategic military alignment contrasts sharply with the economic reality in the West: China has become the European Union's (EU) primary supplier of high-tech products. According to Eurostat, China accounted for 30% (€141 billion) of the EU's high-tech imports in 2024, surpassing the US. This trade includes heavy reliance on Chinese supply for electronics, telecommunications, computers, and office equipment.

This scenario highlights a major geopolitical contradiction: EU nations are heavily reliant on Beijing for crucial high-tech goods, even as they express concern and impose sanctions over China's direct assistance to Russia's military machine, underscoring the complexity of current international security and trade dynamics.

by Gabriele and Nicola Iuvinale

Covert Cooperation: Chinese Tech Fuels Russia's Drone War Effort

A concerning investigation by Reuters has revealed details about the escalating and profound technical cooperation and R&D (Research and Development) between China and Russia’s military-industrial complex. This partnership is directly fueling Moscow’s war effort in Ukraine, specifically through the development and supply of military drones. The collaboration not only boosts Russia’s capabilities but also provides China with a critical testing ground and a top-tier source of intelligence for its next-generation weapons systems.

Chinese Experts Embedded at Russian Arms Dealer

At the core of this joint venture is a series of visits by Chinese drone experts to the Russian state-owned arms dealer, IEMZ Kupol. According to the report, citing European security officials and relevant documents, the Chinese team has visited IEMZ Kupol more than six times since the second quarter of last year to conduct technical research and development on military drones.

IEMZ Kupol, which also imports Chinese-made attack and reconnaissance drones through Russian intermediaries, was previously linked to the development of the new Garpiya-3 drone. The new revelations underscore the deep involvement of the Chinese technical team in the testing and engineering work on Russian military drones.

Supply Chain and Technological Transfer

The cooperation extends beyond mere consultation. Documents reviewed by Reuters, including commercial invoices, showed that last year IEMZ Kupol acquired more than 10 single-range attack drones manufactured by China's Sichuan Aiyi Aviation Technology Co. (Sichuan AEE).

These supplies were facilitated by TSK Vektor, a Russian defense contractor already sanctioned by the United States and the European Union. These shipments, though small, coupled with the technical visits, strongly suggest IEMZ Kupol’s intent to significantly expand the production of new combat drones.

The Garpiya Drone: A Hybrid Weapon for the Conflict

The most tangible outcome of this synergy is the long-range attack drone, Garpiya. Reuters previously reported in July that IEMZ Kupol was mass-producing the Garpiya using key Chinese components, including engines.

The Garpiya's design is based on the Iranian "Shahed" drone, known for its ability to fly autonomously over long distances to a preset target before diving and self-destructing. Ukrainian military intelligence confirmed that Russia is using the Garpiya to strike civilian and military targets deep within Ukraine, reporting an alarming frequency of around 500 sorties per month.

Ukraine as a 'Live Lab' for China's PLA

This tight technical collaboration is not just a tactical advantage for Russia; it is a critical strategic asset for China and its People's Liberation Army (PLA).

Drones: The Future of Modern Warfare

The war in Ukraine has unequivocally demonstrated that drones are the fundamental military technology for future conflicts. They are cost-effective, scalable, and provide asymmetric superiority in reconnaissance, surveillance, and precision strikes.

Top-Tier Intelligence Advantage

Chinese technical involvement in joint testing and development, combined with Russian combat data on operational drones, grants the Chinese military privileged access to intelligence and top-level tactical and operational information from the battlefield.

• Real-Time Data: The PLA can analyze the operational performance of the drones in a high-intensity, real-world combat environment, assessing their vulnerability to Western air defense systems and electronic countermeasures.

• Design Adaptation: This first-hand experience allows Chinese experts to adapt, improve, and accelerate the development of their own UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) systems, ensuring they are fit for the demands of modern warfare.

In summary, as Western governments express escalating concern and impose sanctions, the collaboration between IEMZ Kupol and Chinese drone companies is turning the Ukraine conflict into a living laboratory that offers the PLA invaluable experience, reaffirming China's central role as a critical technology partner for Moscow's war strategy.

EU's High-Tech Dependency on China Confirmed by Eurostat

The strategic military alignment between Beijing and Moscow unfolds against a backdrop of striking European economic reality: China has cemented its position as the European Union's (EU) primary high-tech supplier, confirming the bloc's significant dependency. On September 24th, Eurostat, the EU's statistical office, released data illustrating China's dominant role in the EU's high-tech trade. In 2024, China accounted for 30% (€141 billion) of total EU high-tech imports, surpassing the United States (23%, €111 billion) to become the leading provider. Categorically, electronics and telecommunications products form the largest segment of high-tech imports (36%), an area heavily dominated by China. Computers and office equipment represent another 18%, while pharmaceuticals account for 15%, sourced mainly from both China and the US. This deep commercial reliance creates a geopolitical contradiction for the EU, which simultaneously expresses concern over China's military-technical support for Russia.