Russia is negotiating the purchase of 100 combat drones from China, Der Spiegel reported on Thursday citing sources familiar with the matter.
As per the report, Moscow is looking to commission Chinese Xi'an Bingo Intelligent Aviation Technology Co. Ltd. to mass produce 100 ZT-180 prototype kamikaze drones, with the delivery date set as April 2023. The agency cited military experts who believe that the unmanned armed vehicles in question could be akin to Iran's HESA Shahed 136 drones, and capable of carrying a warhead weighing between 35 and 50 kilograms.
The report comes as the United States accused China of contemplating giving Russia lethal weapons to use in Ukraine conflict, claims that Beijing dismissed as "groundless rumors and slander."
