Russia intensifies drone attacks with covert Chinese engines disguised as cooling components
In a significant development, Chinese companies are covertly shipping essential components for attack drones to Russia, enabling Moscow to significantly increase production of these weapons in defiance of Western sanctions.
The Garpiya-A1 long-range drone, a model directly impacting military operations in Ukraine, is one such weapon benefiting from this covert supply operation. More than 1,500 of these drones have already been delivered by April 2023, with over 500 being launched monthly.
The supply chain circumvents sanctions through front companies and intermediaries. After sanctions targeted Xiamen Limbach Aviation Engine Co., the manufacturer of the L550E engines used in the Garpiya-A1 drones, shipments were rerouted via Beijing Xichao International Technology and Trade, another Chinese firm.
Export documentation deliberately mislabels the engines as cooling units to avoid detection by Chinese authorities, enabling them to be exported despite export controls on dual-use goods. These components reach Russia’s state-owned drone manufacturer IEMZ Kupol, located in Izhevsk, which signed a contract with Russia’s Defense Ministry to produce over 6,000 Garpiya drones in 2025—triple its 2024 output.
European security officials and internal Russian documents confirm the scale and sophistication of this covert supply operation. Notably, about 92% of foreign components in Russian combat drones, including electronics, cameras, antennas, and navigation modules, are sourced from Chinese companies.
The Garpiya drone is based on Iran's Shahed drone, and Russia has a contract with the Russian defense ministry to deliver over 6,000 Garpiya drones in 2025, up from 2,000 in 2024. The parts are disguised as non-sensitive equipment in shipping documents, with the engines sent first to a Russian front company, SMP-138, and then to a second firm, LIBSS, according to a Kupol document seen by Reuters.
The Ukrainian military intelligence agency has reported the use of the Garpiya drone for strikes on both military and civilian targets in Ukraine. In response, the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang this week, with European officials urging China to tighten export and financial controls to stem the flow of drone parts to Moscow.
The Chinese foreign ministry has stated it was unaware of parts being exported for the Garpiya drone and regulates exports of dual-use goods in line with national laws and international obligations. However, the ministry has criticised "unilateral sanctions" that were not backed by the United Nations.
This covert supply operation has allowed Russia’s drone warfare capability to surge, with drones directly impacting military operations in Ukraine. As the situation continues to evolve, the international community will closely monitor the supply of drone components to ensure compliance with sanctions and maintain peace and security.
- The advancement in Russia's drone warfare capability can be attributed to the imported components from Chinese companies, such as those used in the Garpiya-A1 drones.
- Chinese firms play a crucial role in the production of Russian combat drones, supplying over 92% of foreign components, including electronics, cameras, and navigation modules.
- The financial industry is being called upon to tighten export controls to prevent the flow of drone parts to Moscow, as these components are key to increasing Russia's production of these weapons.
- The energy sector may also need to take a more active role in this matter, as some components, such as the L550E engines used in the Garpiya-A1 drones, are disguised as non-sensitive equipment in shipping documents.
