RUSSIA is set to receive hundreds of Chinese kamikaze drones that will allow it to carry out attacks on Ukrainian cities, it was reported.
The two countries are said to be in talks about the sale of an initial batch of fully manufactured drones and then parts for many others to be made in Russia itself.
The deal comes despite US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken warning there would be “consequences” if China supplied lethal aid to Vladimir Putin for his war in Ukraine.
The Russian military is in talks with China’s Xi’an Bingo Intelligent Aviation Technology over the mass production of kamikaze drones for Russia, Der Spiegel reports.
Sources told the paper the design could be similar to that of Iran’s Shahed 136 kamikaze drone.
These were used to carry out terror attacks on Ukrainian cities as well as power plants, often resulting in civilian casualties.
According to Der Spiegel, Bingo has agreed to manufacture and test 100 ZT-180 prototype drones before delivering them in April.
Military experts believe the ZT-180 is capable of carrying a 35 to 50 kilogram warhead.
The company then reportedly plans to deliver components and know-how to Russia so it can make around 100 drones a month itself.
Russia viciously attacked the Kyiv region and other cities with kamikaze drones and missiles as retribution after Ukraine blew up the key Kerch bridge linking Russian to annexed Crimea.
It comes after Volodymyr Zelensky has warned if China backs Russia over the war in Ukraine they could spark World War 3.
Ukraine’s hero president issued the dire warning as he met with Joe Biden during a surprise visit to Kyiv.
It came as the US claimed China is considering arming Russia to help Vladimir Putin win the war in Ukraine.
Zelensky told German daily Die Welt: “For us, it is important that China does not support the Russian Federation in this war. In fact, I would like it to be on our side.
At the moment, however, I don’t think it’s possible.”
He added: “But I do see an opportunity for China to make a pragmatic assessment of what is happening here.
“Because if China allies itself with Russia, there will be a world war, and I do think that China is aware of that.”
Blinken said China was now “considering providing lethal support” to Moscow ranging “from ammunition to the weapons themselves”.
The EU has also warned China about providing weapons to Russia.
Its top diplomat Josep Borrell said he told the Chinese foreign minister that “for us, it would be a red line in our relationship”.
© 2023, GDC. © GDC and www.globaldefensecorp.com. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to www.globaldefensecorp.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Be the first to comment