Russia is allegedly in talks with China’s Xi’an Bingo Intelligent Aviation Technology to buy attack drones.
Source: the mirror with reference to sources
Details: According to the publication, Beijing and Moscow are negotiating the purchase of 100 strike drones, which can be delivered as early as April.
According to this information, the Russian military is negotiating with Xi’an Bingo Intelligent Aviation Technology to mass-produce kamikaze drones for Russia.
According to der Spiegel, Bingo has agreed to build and test 100 prototype ZT-180 drones before handing them over to the Russian Defense Ministry by April 2023. Military experts believe that the ZT-180 is capable of carrying a warhead weighing between 35 and 50 kilograms.
The material says that the design of the UAV may be similar to the design of the Iranian Shaheed 136 kamikaze drone.
In addition, the newspaper writes, Bingo plans to send components and technologies to Russia so that the Russian Federation can independently produce about 100 drones per month.
“China, obviously, already last year planned to provide much more support to the Russian military than previously known,” the journalists suggest.
According to der Spiegel, companies controlled by the Chinese army could plan to supply Russia with spare parts for SU-27 fighters and other aircraft.
As the publication found out, forgery procedures were developed to give out that China was allegedly sending spare parts for civil aviation.
At the same time, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs denies any intention to provide “lethal support” to Russia for the war against Ukraine.
Background:
- China declares its impartial position regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but refuses to condemn the Russian Federation and repeats the Kremlin’s theses, accusing NATO of provoking the war.
- US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said Sunday he was concerned that Beijing was considering strengthening its partnership with Moscow by providing “lethal support” to the Russian military. According to some reports, Blinken raised the issue during a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Saturday.
- US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said on Sunday that China would cross a “red line” if it decides to provide lethal military assistance to Russia in its war against Ukraine.
- On Monday, China’s Foreign Ministry said the US “has no right to lecture” on arms transfers, amid concerns that China could transfer arms to Russia.
