Dozens of visits: Chinese engineers help Russia with drone production

Engineers from China have repeatedly visited Russia to help with technical robots and testing drones at the Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant “Kupol”. In addition, Chinese companies systematically supply the Russians with both drones and key components for strike drones. Such cooperation between Beijing and Moscow indicates that the Russians may soon expand drone production with new strike drones for the war against Ukraine.

Reuters reports on visits to Russia by Chinese drone experts.

According to the publication, Chinese engineers have visited the Kupol plant multiple times, starting in the second quarter of 2024. In total, there have been six such visits.

At the factory, Chinese specialists assembled drones, configured on-board computers, and trained the occupants’ personnel. After that, part of the tests were conducted at a training ground in Chebarkul (Chelyabinsk Oblast). Chinese engineers left the Russian Federation immediately after the tests were completed, as confirmed by the relevant tickets.

In addition, the Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant “Kupol” received batches of strike drones from the Chinese Sichuan AEE. Among the drone models mentioned are the A140 and A900, as well as other series (A60, A100, A200). The supplies were organized by the Russian defense procurement company TSK “Vector”, which is under US and EU sanctions. In the second quarter of 2025, AEE, according to documents, billed “Vector” for more than 5 million yuan for strike drones with equipment against their jamming.

Drones were also supplied to Russia by the Chinese company Hunan Haotianyi. Its VTOL model HW52V was tested in the third quarter of 2024. Documents and airline tickets obtained by Reuters show that the company’s management and engineers traveled to Russia with representatives of the Vector company.

Analysts and European officials say the collaboration signals deepening ties between Russian factories and Chinese drone manufacturers. Experts believe that the availability of Chinese components and expertise could allow Russia to expand its range of strike drones and ramp up production.

Beijing, of course, said it had no information about this cooperation. China claims that it “does not supply lethal weapons” to the parties to the conflict, and strictly controls dual-use goods and the export of drones. The Kremlin, the Russian Defense Ministry, and the Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant “Kupol” did not respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.

It was previously reported that Chinese companies are secretly supplying Russia with components for the production of drones , despite international sanctions. During 2023-2024 alone, Russian firms received drone components worth at least $63 million.

Meanwhile, after Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s latest visit to China, international experts have pointed to an increase in Russian attacks on Ukraine.