US Allies Say China Is Developing Attack Drones for Russia
- Drones modeled on Iran’s Shahed could constitute lethal aid
- Ukraine allies worry about China’s ability to boost production
WATCH: European officials say Chinese and Russian companies are developing an attack drone similar to Iran’s Shahed model.
Source: BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Chinese and Russian companies are developing an attack drone similar to an Iranian model deployed in Ukraine, European officials familiar with the matter said, a sign that Beijing may be edging closer to providing the sort of lethal aid that western officials have warned against.
The companies held talks in 2023 about collaborating to replicate Iran’s Shahed drone, and started developing and testing a version this year in preparation for shipment to Russia, said the officials, who asked not to be identified to discuss private information. The Chinese drones have yet to be used in Ukraine, they said.