Ukraine has identified a new Russian drone used as a decoy to saturate and detect air defense systems, with an alarming detail: all of its components are made in China.
According to the Defense Intelligence Directorate (GUR), the aircraft has a delta wing shape, similar to the Iranian Shahed-136 model, but smaller, and can carry warheads of up to 15 kg. The discovery reinforces evidence that China, despite declaring neutrality, has been a key player in Moscow’s war effort.
Almost half of the drone’s parts, including the flight controller, sensors, and navigation modules, are produced by CUAV Technology, a Chinese company that in 2022 vowed to halt sales to Russia and Ukraine to prevent military use. However, in 2023, the Russians showcased a vertical takeoff UAV that turned out to be a CUAV commercial product sold on AliExpress. The current model, however, indicates a technological leap: it is not a direct purchase, but locally assembled using Chinese components.
In addition to CUAV systems, the drone features a DLE-60 engine, KST servos, Foxeer cameras, and ReadyToSky transmitters, all of Chinese origin. A notable component is a copy of the Australian RFD900x module, which enables long-range communication (up to 40 km), enhancing reconnaissance capabilities. These same components have already been found in other Russian drones, such as the Geran-2 (Shahed variant) and the V2U, used for autonomous attacks with artificial intelligence.
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Russia’s technological dependence on China goes beyond drones. Reports indicate that Beijing has supplied everything from anti-air lasers to optical fibers to extend the range of cable-controlled UAVs — a technology immune to electronic jamming. While North Korea supplies Moscow with ammunition and troops, China provides the “brain” of the war machine: chips, navigation systems, and critical components that circumvent Western sanctions.
▪️All components and blocks are of Chinese origin.
▪️The UAV is also equipped with a Chinese copy of Australian RFD900x data transmission… pic.twitter.com/EVd7AxBIEA— MAKS 25 🇺🇦👀 (@Maks_NAFO_FELLA) July 22, 2025
The case exposes Beijing’s geopolitical game. In private conversations, Foreign Minister Wang Yi admitted that China does not want a Russian defeat, as it would free the U.S. to focus on containing China. For Ukraine, the 100% Chinese drones are material proof that Beijing’s declared “neutrality” is, in practice, indirect support that keeps the war going and Russia’s defense industry alive.
Source: The War Zone / Militarnyi | Photo: X @Maks_NAFO_FELLA | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
