China is building a Shahed-type attack drone for the Russian Federation

Chinese companies are developing for Russia a strike drone similar to the Iranian Shahed used in Ukraine. This is reported by Bloomberg.

Chinese and Russian companies held talks in 2023 on cooperation to copy Iran's Shahed drone, and this year began developing and testing a version of it in preparation for delivery to Russia. Chinese drones have not yet been used in Ukraine.

Chinese defence websites and some media outlets have reported that China is developing a kamikaze strike drone called Sunflower 200, which is described as similar to Iran's Shahed 136 drone.

China's delivery of a Shahed-type strike drone to Russia would demonstrate Beijing's deepening support for Russia, despite repeated warnings from the US and its allies.

Some countries believe that providing Russia with attack drones would cross the line into lethal assistance. The U.S. believes China is weighing whether to send fully completed drones, but in the meantime is sending kits that can be converted into attack drones.

China does not supply weapons to the parties to the Ukrainian conflict and strictly controls the export of dual-use goods," Liu Pengyu, spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in the United States, said in a statement.

Russia has used thousands of Shahed drones against Ukraine since the war began, even building a factory to mass-produce Iranian technology.

But Russia still relies on countries like North Korea and Iran, as well as China, to supply critical parts and components.

One concern, officials said, is that China could produce a Shahed-like drone much faster than Iran or Russia.

Socialportal previously reported that Russian Federation is so dependent on China that Xi Jinping could end the war in Ukraine with one call to Putin, according to Finnish President Alexander Stubb.