Russia is preparing drones with a range of 2,000 km at Chinese factories for attacks in the deep rear of Ukraine

Олена25.09.2024

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SEREBRYANSKY, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 16: (----EDITORIAL USE ONLY MANDATORY CREDIT - 'RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY / HANDOUT' - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS----) A screen grab captured from a video shows the Tsentr Group of Forces 152-mm 2S5 Giatsint-S platoon along with an Orlan-10 unmanned aerial vehicle team wipe out an AFU unmanned aerial vehicle command post near Serebryansky forestry in Krasnyi Lyman direction, of the special military operation zone, Serebryansky, Russia on February 16, 2024. S-8 rockets were launched at the closest range under severe weather conditions. AFU unmanned aerial vehicle command post near Serebryansky forestry in Krasny Lyman direction of the special military operation zone. In the course of a mission, the Orlan-10 drone team located movement of Ukrainian troops between a forest belt and a lonely house. According to intelligence gathered by the Group's reconnaissance units, an AFU unit unmanned aerial vehicle command post was located in that area. After additional intelligence gathering efforts in the area, the unmanned aerial vehicle team transmitted the coordinates to the artillery command post. With real-time firing adjustment, the Central MD's self-propelled artillery regiment artillery crew struck the located target with several shots from a distance of about 20 kilometres. The drone camera recorded a direct hit and smoke. The activity of Ukrainian nationalists' aerial reconnaissance means were significantly reduced after the strike. (Photo by Russian Defense Ministry / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Russia has established a large-scale weapons program in China aimed at developing and mass-producing long-range attack drones for use in the war against Ukraine. About this informs Reuters with reference to intelligence sources.

According to the agency, the Russian company “IEMZ Kupol”, which is a subsidiary of the state-owned arms manufacturer “Almaz-Antey”, developed and conducted flight tests of the new Harpiya-3 (G3) drone model on the territory of China with the participation of local specialists.

“Kupol” informed the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation that it is now capable of producing drones, in particular the G3 model, on a large scale at factories in China, which will allow them to be used in the war against Ukraine.

At the same time, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Reuters that it had no information about such a project and emphasized strict measures to control the export of unmanned aerial vehicles.

Technical characteristics of the new drone “Harpy-3”

The G3 is capable of covering a distance of up to 2,000 km with a payload of up to 50 kg, as stated in the “Kupola” reports for the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. The documents also state that G3 samples, along with other models of drones manufactured in China, were delivered to Russia for further testing with the participation of Chinese experts.

The G3 is an upgraded version of the Harpy-A1 drone. It was updated by Chinese specialists who worked on the drawings of the previous model. “Kupol” also stated that within eight months, production of the REM 1 strike UAV with a payload of up to 400 kg will be ready in China. According to sources in European intelligence, this drone will resemble the American Reaper drone in terms of characteristics.