The Chinese Electronics Trail Behind Russia’s Kurier Combat Robot

The company behind Russia’s Kurier unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) has repeatedly filed documents covering Chinese-made electronics, batteries, radio equipment, and other components.

The findings were revealed in an investigation by the international intelligence community InformNapalm published on October 4.

InformNapalm examined Russian corporate and conformity records linked to NRTK KAPS LLC, a Moscow-based company headed and solely owned by Zorikto Gombozhapov, who is connected to the development of the Kurier military robot.

The investigation identified dozens of Russian declarations from 2025 and 2026 in which NRTK KAPS was listed as the applicant and Shenzhen-based HD LED TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. as the manufacturer.

The equipment covered by the records included radio modules and modems, chargers, batteries, IP cameras, power supplies, and other electronics.

One declaration dated July 30, 2025, covered 4,200 WTX-2S6 batteries and 8,400 WTX-2A2DC batteries—a total of 12,600 units.

InformNapalm stressed that declarations of conformity are not customs records and do not prove that all of the listed equipment was actually imported into Russia or installed in Kurier systems. The documents instead demonstrate the scale of Chinese-origin equipment covered by declarations filed by a company directly linked to the robot’s developer.

The investigation also raised questions about the role of HD LED TECHNOLOGY. In one Russian declaration, the Chinese company was listed as the manufacturer of a JY-ME02-CAN encoder. However, an independent 2025 technical paper identified the same model as a product of Shenzhen-based WIT Motion.

InformNapalm said the available evidence does not establish the precise relationship between the companies, which could involve contract manufacturing, OEM production, consolidation, or resale.

Gombozhapov’s business links to China also predate the NRTK KAPS declarations. Another company he heads, Eychdi LLC, filed declarations in 2024 covering products from Chinese manufacturers SHENZHEN DICOLOR GROUP CO., LTD. and Unilumin Group Co., Ltd.

Corporate records examined by InformNapalm also showed that Gombozhapov previously co-owned Moscow-based NIHAO LLC with Chinese citizen Du Tianzhu, with each holding a 25% stake.

Kurier is a Russian remotely operated tracked UGV designed for logistics and combat missions, including ammunition transport, casualty evacuation, reconnaissance, mine-laying, and weapons carriage. Configurations have been shown carrying PKTM 7.62 mm machine guns, NSVT or Kord heavy machine guns, and AGS-17 and AGS-30 automatic grenade launchers.

On October 2, Russian Airborne Forces also conducted their first reported airdrop of Kurier UGVs from an Il-76 transport aircraft during the Center-2026 exercise. The systems were dropped from an altitude of roughly 600 meters before being used to support an assault unit.

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