Russia produces new kamikaze drone with Chinese engine

A Ukrainian serviceman carries a part of a downed Russian suicide drone amid Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, near Kyiv last November. | REUTERS

by ANTHONY DEUTSCH AND TOM BALMFORTH
September 14, 2024

KYIV – Russia started producing a new long-range attack drone called the Garpiya-A1 last year using Chinese engines and parts, which it has deployed in the war in Ukraine, according to two sources from a European intelligence agency and documents seen by Reuters.

The intelligence — which included a production contract for the new drone, company correspondence on the manufacturing process and financial documents — indicated that IEMZ Kupol, a subsidiary of Russian state-owned weapons-maker Almaz-Antey, produced more than 2,500 Garpiyas from July 2023 to July 2024.

The existence of the new Russian drone incorporating Chinese technology has not been previously reported. IEMZ Kupol and Almaz-Antey did not respond to requests for comment. The two intelligence sources said that the Garpiya, which means Harpy in Russian, has been deployed against military and civilian targets in Ukraine, causing damage to critical infrastructure as well as both civilian and military casualties.