Chinese Components Dominate Russian Drones Used Against Ukraine, Says Intelligence Report

Chinese manufacture now account for 60–65 percent of those found in drones deployed by Russia against Ukraine according to Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) report published by Radio Svoboda on July 7.

Components from the United States and Switzerland rank second and third, respectively.

Ukrainian analysts examined wreckage of Russian drones recovered in May and noted a marked increase in Chinese-produced circuit boards, navigation modules and communication devices.

The report also describes a recent upgrade of satellite navigation antennas on Russian variants of the drones, replacing standard four- and eight-element arrays with 12- and 16-element arrays to improve resistance to electronic warfare measures and reduce jamming vulnerability.

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War in Ukraine

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“One of the innovations is the use of 3G modems integrated into the UAV’s telemetry, feeding location and flight data to a Telegram bot so that the enemy can analyze the deployment of our EW and air-defense systems,” an intelligence representative explained.

Intelligence officials further reported trials of new strike drone powered by a jet engine, and the development of humidity-resistant warheads for more reliable performance in adverse weather.

Earlier, a Chinese-manufactured component was discovered in the wreckage of a Shahed-136 drone that struck Kyiv on July 4, mere hours after Russia’s missile strike lightly damaged the Chinese Consulate in Odesa.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called it “no better metaphor” for Moscow’s widening network of backers in its aggression.

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