Chinese and Russian companies are developing an attack drone similar to an Iranian model deployed in Ukraine, European officials familiar with the matter said, a sign that Beijing may be moving closer to providing the kind of lethal assistance that Western officials have warned against.
The companies held talks in 2023 about working together to replicate Iran’s Shahed drone and began developing and testing a version this year in preparation for shipping it to Russia, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private information. The Chinese drones have yet to be used in Ukraine, the officials said.
Delivering a Shahed-style attack drone to Russia would deepen Beijing’s support for Russia, despite repeated warnings from the U.S. and its allies. Chinese President Xi Jinping has sought to portray China as neutral in the conflict in Ukraine, while Western officials say it has provided components and other support to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s forces.
