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12 Jul 24. SSASS Holdings locally producing multirole fixed wing VTOL UAVs. South African company SSASS Holdings (Solutions, Sensors, Aircraft, Software and Services) is assembling fixed wing vertical takeoff and landing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) at its new Centurion facility for surveillance, monitoring and other tasks.
SSASS CEO Dean Polley, exhibiting at the Aero South Africa exhibition at Wonderboom airport last week, told defenceWeb that his company opened a new premises in Centurion in September last year and is assembling its SR series fixed wing aircraft with a quadcopter component for vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL). Transitioning to horizontal flight gives far greater range than pure VTOL aircraft.
SSASS offers a range of UAV solutions, but its largest and most important types are its SR series, offered for aerial surveillance and monitoring, surveying, mapping and photogrammetry, agriculture and farming, law enforcement and other roles.
The SR-50 is the largest in the series with a 4.8 metre wingspan, 15 kg payload, 82 km/h speed and 50-100 km control range. The SR-50E electric version has a 4.5 hour endurance while the SR-50H petrol version can fly for ten hours.
In the middle is the SR-25E with a 4.2 metre wingspan, 10 kg payload, 3.5 hour endurance, 70 km/h speed and 50-100 km control range. On the smaller side is the SR-10E with a 2.4 metre wingspan, 1.5 kg payload, three hour endurance, 70 km/h top speed and 10 km control range.
Each aircraft is built to order in line with client specifications and can be fitted with multiple payload options in a quickly detachable payload pod. Payload options range from mapping systems to electro-optical/infrared cameras with object tracking etc. For military applications, although the aircraft are designed for use in non-combat security and surveillance roles, they do facilitate the installation and integration of select weapon systems that could be used in supporting ground troop operations if required.
SSASS completed tests flights of its first SR-25E in February, and has a first local client for the model, which is fitted with a RIEGL miniVUX-1UAV laser scanning system but the open payload bay can accommodate a multitude of customised payload applications – the client has three payload options.
Airframes are manufactured in China and the avionics are sourced from uAvionix Corporation in the United States, with assembly and customisation in South Africa. Total lead time from order to delivery of an aircraft is six to eight weeks, including airframe manufacture, payload integration, and testing.
The avionics supplied by uAvionix Corporation include the George G3 autopilot, truFYX GPS, SkyLink radio systems, pingRX Pro ADS-B receiver and a ping200X Mode S ADS-B transponder. What differentiates the SR series from other platforms is the separation of the command and control (C2) radio link from the data and gimbal control radio link. The onboard SkyLink air radio system is seamlessly integrated with the George autopilot and is paired with the SkyStation ground radio system. This provides a Control and a Non-Payload Communications (CNPC) link which is unique to unmanned systems. Multiple SkyStations can be deployed to support network and frequency roaming on the SkyLine C2 network.
With the 10 Watt radio, UAV communications range is 160 km, but if the radios are connected to Starlink satellite, communications range could be unlimited, and the aircraft could be flown from anywhere. (Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)
11 Jul 24. USN Tests Using Drones for Medical Supply Deliveries During RIMPAC. As the US Navy looks to further integrate drones into the manned fleet, the sea service assessed using unmanned aerial systems to deliver critical supplies to the destroyer Curtis Wilbur last month during the massive Rim of the Pacific military exercise.
While these supplies are traditionally delivered to Navy vessels via manned aircraft, such assets are expensive and facing manning shortages — causing delays that drones could remedy, according to Navy officials.
The Curtis Wilbur conducted flight tests using the Skyways V2.6 Unmanned Aerial System and PteroDynamics X-P4 Unmanned Aerial System, launching and recovering six drones between from June 19 to June 24 as part of the Just In Time Delivery logistics effort with the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division.
“The Navy continues to drive rapid experimentation and implementation of new technologies,” Cmdr. Yilei Liu, commanding officer of the Curtis Wilbur, said in a statement. “While easy to configure and ready to deploy, it is vital to evaluate these technologies in different environmental conditions to define and scope the operating envelopes of these highly capable platforms.”
In 2021, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division awarded PteroDynamics a contract to deliver three vertical take-off and landing drone prototypes to the Navy to assist delivering repair cargo.
“Embedding autonomous platforms into our already-existing systems will define the nature of combat operations in the future,” Liu said. “Once tested, autonomous systems can provide independent defensive and offensive capabilities in a contested environment. These systems can perform potentially dangerous, high-risk evolutions with maximum efficiency and minimal risk to personnel.”
Exercise Rim of the Pacific, known as RIMPAC, is a biennial exercise held near the Hawaiian Islands and involves nearly 30 nations and more than 25,000 personnel. (Source: UAS VISION/C4ISRNET)
09 Jul 24. OKSI has announced the release of OMNISCIENCE, their autonomy portfolio for unmanned airborne platforms. OMNISCIENCE is a modular and containerized software suite of autonomy and computer vision technologies that work together to provide intelligence to virtually any air platform. OMNISCIENCE is offered as both individual containerized capabilities or tightly coupled interoperable modules, providing next-level autonomy and adaptability to UAS/UAVs. Some of the available modules include OMNInav for GPS-denied navigation, OMNIseek for Automatic Detection and Recognition (ATD/ATR), OMNIlocate for providing CAT I/II target coordinates in denied environments, and OMNItarget for terminal guidance. These individual modules can work together to provide true autonomy when managed and controlled by the mission executive module, OMNImind. OMNImind provides conditional behavior logic and adapts to dynamic mission environments on the fly.
OMNISCIENCE provides the operator the option to plan and fly, truly autonomous missions completely passive with no external dependencies on GPS or RF communications. For platforms with enough processing power, OMNISCIENCE is ready for rapid integration into any air platform. Manufacturers and system operators can hand-select the custom software modules based on customer or mission requirements or integrate the entire OMNISCIENCE software stack for full mission autonomy. The OMNISCIENCE software portfolio brings autonomy at scale, unlocking capabilities such as true autonomy and affordable mass integration.
“OMNISCIENCE sets a new standard for unmanned aerial autonomy, enabling mission success in any environment without external dependencies,” says Chris HolmesParker, CEO, OKSI. “Our technology ensures that warfighters stay ahead with true intelligence and adaptability.”
The OKSI team is expert in GPS-denied navigation, targeting, and autonomy. The OMNISCIENCE software enables platform developers to achieve the new gold standard in autonomy: Intelligence by OKSI. OKSI encourages UAS/UAV manufacturers and government entities to reach out to discuss integration so they can elevate their platforms with capabilities that allow them to operate anytime, anywhere, without fear of being jammed or emitting detectable signals.
OKSI has been revolutionizing the AI/ML defense landscape in recent years. However, what industry and end-users may not realize is that OKSI boasts a rich history spanning over 30 years in developing and integrating AI and computer vision technologies. Formerly known as Opto-Knowledge Systems Inc., OKSI’s roots lie in government R&D, specializing in “knowledge systems”—the early foundations of AI—alongside EO/IR systems, with many of these technologies now commercialized and fielded. Throughout their history, OKSI has collaborated with every government agency dedicated to advancing defense and aerospace technologies.
OKSI is known for pioneering passive and autonomous technologies designed for integration and adaptation into future warfare systems. They recognize the critical need to outpace adversarial advancements, ensuring the US and allied nation’s warfighters maintain the advantage on the battlefield. Manufacturers and systems integrators should look to improve their capability and reliability by equipping their platforms with Intelligence by OKSI. They can do so by contacting . (Source: PR Newswire)
10 Jul 24. Montenegro receives UASs from Slovenia. Montenegro has received from Slovenia C-Astral’s Belin-V unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) that were agreed in 2023. The sixBelin-V electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) multirole UASs were received by the Montenegrin Ministry of Defence on 2 July. The delivery was conducted at Knjaz Danilo military airport in the presence of the ministers of defence of Montenegro and Slovenia, Dragan Krapović and Marjan Šarec respectively. News of the handover came 10 months after the bilateral agreement was signed in August 2023 between the two former Yugoslav republics to jointly procure fixed-wing UASs for military reconnaissance as well as aerial surveillance and monitoring. According to the manufacturer, the air vehicle has a 12 kg maximumtake-off weight, and operates at the tactical level providing a complete spectrum of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations. It offers up to 2.5 hours endurance at line-of-sight distances of up to 40 km and altitudes of up to about 13,000 ft. The nose-mounted payload typically features an 80x zoom gyro-stabilised electro-optical/thermal sensor. It can also be equipped with several different command-and-control datalinks. For more information on the Belin UAS, please see Slovenian Armed Forces to receive new Belin-V UASs. (Source: Janes)
10 Jul 24. Innovative British UAS manufacturer Evolve Dynamics announced a landmark order of its market-leading SKY MANTIS 2 aircraft and accessories package by a defence customer in the Australia and New Zealand region, facilitated by delivery partner Criterion Solutions. The news comes off the back of the agreement signed between Evolve Dynamics and Criterion Solutions earlier this year, which has seen the latter add SKY MANTIS 2 UAS to its customer offering across the police, security and defence sectors in the two countries.
For customers of Evolve Dynamics’ technology in Australia and New Zealand, Criterion Solutions will also offer enduring customer service, incorporating vital in-country training, support and repairs.
ISR CAPABILITIES
Delivering value to government agency operations in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), the newly-launched SKY MANTIS 2 offers market-leading resilience, power and imaging capabilities, complimented by the extreme weather operability that Evolve Dynamics’ technology is known for. The platform has a Doodle Labs Helix Mesh Rider Radio integrated as standard, bringing the benefit of extensive front-line testing to deliver industry-leading resilience.
Defence customers choosing SKY MANTIS 2 can benefit from a range of interchangeable ISR payloads, including MWIR thermal zoom, 61MP HD camera, LWIR thermal zoom, and RF Scanner. Payloads such as these enable customers to augment situational awareness capabilities across a variety of operational scenarios.
Evolve Dynamics’ Simulator is also a popular choice for customers across defence, public safety and industry, allowing new and existing pilots to train in a synthetic environment with conditions replicating the real world, including extreme weather such as rain and wind. Operated with the actual SKY MANTIS 2 ground control station, and with simulated gimbal video going back to the controller screen, the experience is hard to distinguish from the real one. With this, pilots can build and maintain competency with zero risk and lower cost than operating a real system, and with custom mission packs, they can also train for advanced missions including landing on a vessel.
Evolve Dynamics CEO Mike Dewhirst said:
“The first order of the SKY MANTIS 2 aircraft in Australia is exciting news. This industry-leading uncrewed systems technology will bring significant value to the customer for their defence operations, partnered with comprehensive support delivered by Criterion Solutions.”
Criterion Solutions’ Director, Andrew Windsor commented:
“The inaugural delivery of the SKY MANTIS 2 to this new customer market is a landmark moment. We’re excited to be working with Evolve Dynamics, as we continue to support them in bringing this industry-leading sUAS capability to defence, security and police customers across Australia and New Zealand.”
09 Jul 24. Overwatch Group and PteroDynamics Ink Strategic Relationship. Companies Sign Exclusive Distribution Agreement for Transwing® VTOL UAS in the UK, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates.
Overwatch Group, a UK-based end-to-end design and manufacture company specialising in advanced unmanned system and munitions technologies, and PteroDynamics Inc., an innovator in vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft systems, today announced a landmark long-term strategic relationship and the first distribution agreement to bring the pioneering dual-use autonomous Transwing® (VTOL) to certain territories outside the United States. Overwatch will be the exclusive sales representative of the Transwing® unmanned aerial systems (UAS) aircraft on behalf of PteroDynamics within the United Kingdom (UK) for all non-commercial sales, and in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) for all prospective commercial and defence sales. Overwatch has also made a strategic investment in PteroDynamics.
As the first distributor for this technology, Overwatch will help expand the employment of the Transwing® aircraft platform outside the United States, starting in the UK, UAE, and KSA. Overwatch will bring its engineering expertise in unmanned systems and payloads to satisfy requirements for potential customers in these territories.
PteroDynamics’ Transwing® is a revolutionary VTOL aircraft system that overcomes the limitations inherent in other VTOL designs by marrying the speed, range, and endurance of fixed-wing aircraft with superior VTOL performance in an efficient, highly automated platform. The aircraft folds its wings to transition seamlessly between vertical and winged horizontal flight, requires no additional launch and recovery infrastructure, and occupies a minimal footprint, making it immediately ready for VTOL operations out of the box. Its unique performance characteristics provide defence and commercial operators with a more cost-effective, autonomous alternative for critical logistics resupply and other missions to remote locations without runways, which are currently undertaken by crewed aircraft, boats, or other less practical means.
Prototypes of the Transwing® are currently under assessment by the U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAVAIR NAWCAD) for the Blue Water Maritime Logistics UAS (BWUAS) program for automated long-range maritime resupply missions. Automating maritime logistics and resupply also represents a significant opportunity for commercial operators. Unplanned downtime of offshore oil and gas production results in average losses of U.S. $49M per year per producer, and nearly 100,000 commercial sea-going vessels of more than 100 gross tons make 4.4 m ports of call yearly, each time requiring deliveries prior to coming to port, which are costly and difficult to schedule.
Drew Michael, CEO at Overwatch Group said, “We are extremely proud to have secured our long-term strategic relationship with PteroDynamics. Both companies are dynamic engineering enterprises that design and manufacture unique, patented technology from the ground up. Our R&D of cutting-edge payload technologies continues to gather pace as we develop our next generation of drones, and we now wish to extend our expertise into wider markets. Having assessed the market, the Transwing® stood out as transformational dual-use technology, and the whole of Overwatch is excited by how we will enhance it.”
Matthew Graczyk, CEO at PteroDynamics said, “PteroDynamics’ ability to build successful working strategic relationships with leaders in our industry enables us to accelerate innovation and build the solutions that solve the critical unmet needs of our customers. Not only does Overwatch have deep domain experience in avionics and aero-mechanical engineering, but their ties with commercial and defence customers in the UK, KSA, and UAE will prove to be a game-changing advantage for both companies. We are excited to work closely with Overwatch and look forward to growing this important strategic relationship.”
09 Jul 24. Shoddy Russian Workmanship is Letting Ukraine Win the Drone War. Russia’s wider war in Ukraine is a drone war. The side that can deploy more and better unmanned aerial vehicles – for surveillance, strike, minelaying and even resupply – has a clear advantage, even if it’s outnumbered or outgunned in other ways. Which is why both Russia and Ukraine are ramping up production of drones and anti-drone radio jammers. And why the inferior quality of Russia’s drones and jammers is such a big deal.
In theory, Russia with its bigger economy and defence industry should be able to out-produce Ukraine. In practice, the quality of Russia’s drones and jammers is so low that it’s having a measurable effect along the 700-mile front line.
On paper, Russia and Ukraine both produce more than 100,000 of the most important first-person-view drones every month. These tiny, inexpensive drones – each weighing just a few pounds and costing around $500 – can haul nearly their own weight in explosives out to a distance of several miles, all while under the control of operators wearing virtual-reality headsets, seeing what the drones see with their forward-looking cameras.
An FPV strike can maim or kill an exposed infantryman or damage – even destroy – an armoured vehicle. When Ukrainian brigades were starving for artillery ammunition this spring, the direct result of pro-Russia Republican lawmakers in the US Congress blocking further aid to Ukraine between October and April – made-in-Ukraine FPV drones helped to fill the firepower gap and forestall major Russian gains.
According to analysts who tally battlefield losses in Ukraine, Ukrainian FPV strikes outnumber verified Russian strikes at least three to one, if not six to one – even though Ukrainian workshops and Russian factories produce roughly equal numbers of drones.
The build quality is the likeliest reason. In Ukraine, FPV drones come from two major sources: centralized domestic or foreign production paid for with government funds as well as the collective effort of many small Ukrainian workshops that often get their funding from private and non-profit donors. Ukrainian UAV development and production is diverse, disaggregated and responsive to demand signals.
In Russia, by contrast, the government has monopolised FPV drone production at just a few big state enterprises that are rife with cronyism. That both invites corruption and fraud and slows innovation.
The consequences, for Russian drone operators on the front line, include what Samuel Bendett – a drone expert with the Virginia-based think tank CNA – describes as “poor quality overall” and “significant technical issues, like FPVs not able to take to the air when out of the box on the frontlines.” Sure, the Russians might build as many drones as the Ukrainians do, but how many Russian UAVs actually work?
The quality disparity might be even greater when it comes to anti-drone defences – in particular, radio jammers that are designed to block the signals between drones and their operators. As the wider war in Ukraine ground toward its third year and Ukrainian FPV production ramped up, Russian regiments responded by equipping vehicles and infantry with jammers, lots of them.
But many of the Russian jammers simply don’t work – and for the same reasons Russian drones often don’t work. “Absolutely poor build quality,” one Russian observer admitted.
In early April, a Ukrainian brigade staged a daring three-night raid to steal an immobilized Russian tank sporting what appeared to be a new multi-frequency jamming installation – only to discover the jammer was ineffective. “It was makeshift,” reported one of the Ukrainian soldiers who fetched the Russian tank.
The individual jammers and their antennas might have been factory-standard, but the overall assembly – multiple radio emitters roped together atop a wooden shipping pallet – was “homemade,” and probably not very effective.
It wasn’t an isolated problem for the Russians. A multi-frequency jammer peddled by at least one popular Russian social media channel is worse than useless, according to a recent report from one Russian blogger. The blogger identified a “huge list of technical errors” and also criticized the jammer’s “weight and size [and] the carrying handle that breaks.”
Among those technical errors are mismatched and improperly aligned antennae and a cooling fan that’s installed wrong – and totally inadequate to deal with the massive amounts of heat a jammer produces. Not only does the $2,400 jammer not function as advertised, it might inspire false confidence among front-line troops. “It is even scary to imagine how many people died, falsely hoping” as they assaulted through swarms of Ukrainian drones, the blogger wrote.
In the Ukraine drone race, the Ukrainians are clearly winning. Not because they make more drones and jammers – but because the Russians’ drones and jammers are badly made. (Source: UAS VISION/The Daily Telegraph)
09 Jul 24. Skynode S: Auterion Autonomy Kit Lets Attack Drones Fly Through Jamming. Auterion, a provider of operating system for drones, has introduced Skynode S, a new game-changing drone technology for kinetic military use to ramp up support for democracies looking to defend against aggressors.
Skynode S is an all-in-one computer and flight controller offering the first low-cost, NDAA-compliant technology which will integrate with a wide range of commercial and military vehicles. The software is already proven in combat missions in Ukraine and empowers Ukrainian forces with advanced computer vision to counter and bypass the loss of GPS and radio frequency targeting functions in electronic warfare. It is the first to offer swarm control, fully autonomous flight, and immunity to jamming, it delivers unprecedented accuracy, boosting success rates from 20% to over 90%.
Auterion’s software is priced comparably to a smartphone and will democratize high-tech combat drones enabling U.S. manufacturers and suppliers to outpace Chinese competitors. Additionally, it features a targeting app compatible with regular computers, marking it as a game-changer for both defense and commercial sectors.
Lorenz Meier, founder and CEO of Auterion, said:
“Our technology is transforming the battlefield to help democracies defend themselves. We are proud to contribute to the Ukrainians’ effort with smarter, more accurate, and cost-effective technology that allows them to use drones at an increasingly massive scale to repel the aggressor.”
Auterion Government Solutions’ evolution to develop products that help democracies defend themselves has been driven by customers’ needs and requests, as democracies look to build the capabilities needed to defend themselves in a volatile world. It allows manufacturers and wider suppliers to compete with Chinese counterparts. It is based on Auterion’s commitment in its Code of Ethics that it will not withhold its technology from liberal democracies.
About SKYNODE S
Skynode S was developed with government and industry partners in the US, EU, and Ukraine over several months, including hundreds of test flights and successful front-line engagements by Auterion’s Ukrainian customers. Skynode S is dual-use – it also allows civilian operators to deploy small, low-cost drones in for example restricted airspace or indoors, and to integrate the full range of cameras, radios and on-board apps onto the platform. It enables the deployment of unmanned systems running AI and computer vision applications at quantities that make a strategic-level impact. (Source: UAS VISION)
08 Jul 24. RoK may buy drones from Poland to expand arms relationship, report says. Poland has asked South Korea to buy its drones, particularly aerial attack vehicles used effectively in Ukraine, and Seoul is reviewing the request because it could help seal more contracts with a major arms buyer, a news report said on Monday.
Poland made a sales pitch for a range of its drones to a South Korean delegation led by Defense Minister Shin Won-sik that visited last month, South Korea’s Dong-a Ilbo newspaper reported, citing unnamed government sources.
The Polish government highlighted the drones’ effectiveness as proven in combat and their relatively low prices, Dong-a Ilbo reported.
Poland has signed major arms contracts with South Korea including a $22 bn deal in 2022 for mechanised howitzers, tanks and fighter jets, the largest weapons sales ever for South Korea.
“It isn’t easy for a one-way relationship where only Poland is buying South Korea’s weapons to be sustained,” a South Korean government official was quoted as saying in the newspaper report.
“If we buy Polish drones, that could promote the export of our weapons to Poland,” the official added.
South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration referred to the Defense Ministry when asked about the report. The Defense Ministry did not immediately have comment.
South Korea has been making a major push to become the world’s fourth-largest defence exporter by 2027.
Poland is likely to sign another contract with South Korea in September for the delivery of more arms, in particular K2 tanks, Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz was quoted as saying in June by state news agency PAP. (Source: Reuters)
03 Jul 24. Elbit’s Hermes 900 Starliner licensed for civilian use. The Hermes 900 Starliner uncrewed aerial system, developed by Elbit Systems, has been licensed for civilian air routes. To achieve civilian certification, the Starliner underwent extensive testing and met over 350 aviation regulations. A derivative of Elbit’s Hermes 900, which is used by militaries in several countries, the Starliner is equipped with dual safety systems and parachutes for emergency landings. It can provide surveillance from safe altitudes with extended loiter times, making it suitable for disaster response or homeland security applications. Examples include managing avalanches, monitoring deforestation in the Amazon, conducting border surveillance with neighbouring countries, and ensuring security at large-scale events. (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
05 Jul 24. Russian 10-Drone Control Station. A state-of-the art system capable of simultaneously controlling ten drones and ground-based robots has reportedly been unveiled in Russia.
Russia’s Vega Radio Engineering Corporation has presented a modernized system capable of simultaneously controlling ten unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and ground-based robots, Leonid Khozin, spokesman for Russia’s United Instrument Manufacturing Corporation, was quoted by RIA Novosti as saying.
The system is on display at a robotic technology exhibition which opened at Patriot Park outside Moscow on February 10. The exhibition is being held within the framework of Robot Automation, a military technology conference being hosted by the Russian Armed Forces.
Khozin said that the Vega concern presented “an upgraded hardware-software system for controlling a group of UAVs and ground robotic systems [mounted] on a KAMAZ-43116 chassis.”
“The system, which has controls for UAVs and robots, is equipped with five workstations for operators. It includes a supercomputer which allows the operators to run up to ten UAVs and ground-based robotic systems at once”
As for the KAMAZ-43116 chassis, it is highly maneuverable and can operate autonomously for up to seven days; the system’s mobile version can be deployed within 15 minutes, according to Khozin.
Meanwhile, Sergei Popov, head of the Russian Defense Ministry’s scientific research and robotics center, has said that the ministry has been increasingly using robots for a variety of tasks, from looking for illegal armed groups to mine sweeping.
He added that “since 2011, the number of unmanned aerial vehicles deployed by the Russian Defense Ministry has risen ninefold, the use of ground robots has tripled and the use of underwater robots has increased four times.”
(Source: UAS VISION/Sputnik News)
05 Jul 24. Russia and China Collaborate on Developing a New Attack Drone. Russia and China are collaborating on the development of a new attack drone inspired by Iran’s Shahed family of drones, intended for use in Ukraine. According to anonymous European officials, the two countries have been in talks since 2023. This partnership marks a significant step in their military cooperation, despite ongoing geopolitical tensions and warnings from the United States and its allies.
Bloomberg initially reported that Russian and Chinese companies have started the development and testing phase of the agreement, aiming to replicate the Iranian Shahed drones. Although China has not yet supplied any drones to Russia, providing a Shahed-style attack drone would signify an increase in Beijing’s support for Moscow. This move would contradict China’s claimed neutrality in the Ukrainian conflict, a position often affirmed by President Xi Jinping. Liu Pengyu, the spokesperson for China’s embassy, reiterated that China does not supply weapons to the parties involved in the conflict and strictly controls the export of dual-use items.
Shahed drones have been a cornerstone of Russia’s drone strategy against Ukraine, with thousands deployed since the war began. These drones are relatively inexpensive to produce but costly to defend against. Russia has even established a factory to mass-produce these drones but remains dependent on countries like North Korea and Iran for supplies, and China for critical components. European officials express concern that China could mass-produce a Shahed-like drone more quickly than Iran or Russia.
Despite repeated assurances from Chinese officials, it appears that China is providing support to Russia’s military efforts. US Ambassador to NATO, Julianne Smith, highlighted that China has been supplying dual-use components, such as machine tools and microelectronics, enabling Russia to sustain its war efforts. At the G-7 summit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated that President Xi had promised not to provide weapons to Russia. However, current developments suggest otherwise
Officials did not identify the specific drone under development, but reports indicate that China might be working on a kamikaze attack drone called the Sunflower 200, similar in appearance to the Iranian Shahed 136 drone. This potential collaboration between Russia and China would not only signify a new phase in their military partnership but also indicate a growing reliance of Russia on Chinese technology and support amidst Western sanctions. The acceleration of this project poses a significant challenge for Ukraine and its allies, raising concerns about the future dynamics of the conflict. (Source: Google/
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