Russia Develops Long-Range Attack Drones in China: European Intelligence Reveals

Russia has established a weapons programme in China to develop and produce long-range attack drones for the war in Ukraine. Documents indicate that the new Garpiya-3 (G3) drone has been flight-tested and could be produced at scale. The White House expressed concerns over potential Chinese involvement.

Russia has initiated a weapons programme in China aimed at developing long-range attack drones for use in the Ukrainian war, according to European intelligence sources and documents examined by Reuters.

IEMZ Kupol, part of Russian state-owned Almaz-Antey, has developed and tested the new Garpiya-3 (G3) drone in China with local experts' aid. The company informed the Russian defence ministry that large-scale production of the G3 could take place in a Chinese factory for deployment in Ukraine.

The White House National Security Council expressed deep concerns over the report, suggesting a Chinese firm might be assisting a U.S-sanctioned Russian company. However, China's foreign ministry denied awareness of such a project, citing strict control measures on drone exports.

(With inputs from agencies.)