Parts, components and UAVs. China becomes main supplier of weapons for russian military machine - The Economist

Currently, China is the main supplier for the russian military-industrial complex, supplying the russian federation with critical components for the manufacture of weapons. This is reported by The Economist.

Thus, it is reported, citing Western officials, that China has provided russia with various forms of support since 2023, including critical components of weapons and civilian drones.

What do China's supplies to the russian federation include:

– Parts and components necessary for the production and repair of russian military equipment;

– Civilian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs): These drones are actively used by russia for reconnaissance, fire control and even as strike weapons at the front.

For example, the publication cites the example of the Iranian-designed Shahed drone, which is currently being produced at factories in the russian federation - previously they were equipped with American microelectronics, but the newest ones are equipped with parts from China. Only 2 parts out of 15 in it turned out to be American, and all the rest are mostly from China. It is reported that this indicates the deep integration of Chinese supplies into the production chain of the russian military-industrial complex and the desire of the russian federation to reduce dependence on Western technologies, replacing them with Chinese analogues.

The article also says that since the start of the full-scale war in 2022, China has been cautious in providing military assistance to russia, but has rejected some russian requests for assistance and equipment.

“China has avoided large-scale transfers of ready-made munitions or lethal weapons that could trigger US or European sanctions. Beijing does not want the international condemnation that would arise if too many of its weapons appeared on the battlefield. But there are signs that China has approached that line – and perhaps crossed it,” the article says.

It also mentions the possibility that China has transferred small quantities of artillery ammunition and military UAVs to russia, although so far there has been little public evidence of this.

"In early 2023, China was considering sending russia a batch of 122- and 152-millimeter shells, but there is no indication that it did so on a large scale. Later that year, Ukrainian forces discovered Chinese-made mortar shells near Melitopol, in southern Ukraine. It is unclear whether such supplies were made directly from China or indirectly from third countries, where Chinese small arms and ammunition are ubiquitous," the authors of the publication emphasized.

The interlocutors of the publication state that China helps russia in the production of explosives - by supplying nitrocellulose, a key component - and also supplies fiber-optic cables for drones.

Data from analysts of the "Economic Security Council of Ukraine" are also provided - during 2023-2024, China became the main source of industrial equipment for the russian federation - it accounted for up to 90% of machine tool imports, many of which were of Western origin.

As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, US President Donald Trump is refraining from putting pressure on China with the demand to stop the Chinese side's support for the russian military machine, as he is focused on other aspects of relations with Beijing - Washington's main geopolitical rival.

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