Throughout the summer, China significantly increased its supply of components to Russia used in the production of fiber-optic drones. According to data from China’s customs administration, in May and June, Russia imported 119,000 and 130,000 miles of fiber-optic cables respectively, and by August this figure had risen to a record 328,000 miles.
Source: Bukvy
At the same time, exports of lithium-ion batteries and other components enabling Russian manufacturers to produce modern drones also increased. These drones are controlled via thin fiber-optic cables, making them more resistant to radio interference and harder for Ukrainian forces to intercept.
Despite Beijing’s official statements of neutrality in the war against Ukraine, Chinese companies — which control about 80% of the global commercial UAV market — are effectively supporting Russia’s military industry. Although direct exports of finished drones to Russia have reportedly declined, cooperation between Chinese and Russian manufacturers continues to strengthen Moscow’s position on the battlefield.
For comparison, in August China sent only 72 miles of fiber-optic cables to Ukraine, highlighting a sharp trade imbalance in favor of Russia.
Discussion about this post