China and Russia jointly develop strike drones, Ukraine allies worry about Beijing may boost production, European officials say
cross-posted from: feddit.org/post/442629
Chinese and Russian companies are developing a strike drone similar to Iran’s “Shahed,” which has been actively used in attacks on Ukraine, according to European officials familiar with the matter, as reported by Bloomberg.
Officials did not identify the drone under development, but Chinese defence websites and several media outlets have indicated that China is working on a kamikaze strike drone named Sunflower 200. This drone reportedly bears a resemblance to the Iranian Shahed 136 in its appearance and functionality.
The officials noted that Chinese drones have not yet been used in Ukraine.
Several countries believe that supplying Russia with drones for attack purposes would cross the threshold of lethal assistance. Two officials conveyed this concern, highlighting the implications of such actions.