<p>Chinese and Russian companies are developing and testing an attack drone based on the Iranian-made Shahed amid the war against Ukraine, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday (Jul 2) citing anonymous European officials familiar with the situation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The report mentioned that the companies held talks about collaborating to replicate Iran's Shahed drone in 2023.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ukraine has often claimed that its air defence systems intercepted Iranian-style Shahed attack drones, but the Chinese drones have yet to be used in the war.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/vladimir-putin-believes-donald-trump-is-sincere-about-ending-ukraine-war-737958">Vladimir Putin believes Donald Trump is sincere about ending Ukraine war</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>China claimed that it had a neutral stand in the war despite Western officials saying that Beijing provided equipment and other aid to President Vladimir Putin's forces.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The&nbsp;unmanned aircraft, which is under development, is called the "Sunflower 200", as per Chinese defence websites and media outlets.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Russia has not officially commented but according to the state-run TASS news agency, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday that "we don't react in any way" to the report.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sco-summit-xi-meets-old-friend-putin-duo-vows-to-fast-track-power-of-siberia-2-gas-pipeline-project-737590" target="_blank">SCO summit: Xi meets 'old friend' Putin, duo vows to fast-track Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline project</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>As quoted by the Bloomberg report, Liu Pengyu, who is the spokesman for China's embassy in the US, said in a statement Beijing doesn't provide weapons to the parties of the Ukraine conflict. Liu added that China strictly controls exports of dual-use articles.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"On the Ukraine crisis, it is quite clear to the international community who is calling for dialogue and striving for peace, and who is fueling the fight and inciting confrontation,” said Liu.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We urge the relevant countries to immediately stop fueling the fight and inciting confrontation," Liu added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Ukraine's F-16s: A sitting duck or a game changer?</strong></p>

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<p>In connection to the report, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in an interview on Wednesday with Bloomberg Television, said: "We don't have 100% evidence that Chinese weapons are shipped to Russia. The Chinese leader told me that he won't do that."&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Some components are there — like for drones. Some dual-use, they are probably there. But those are not only Chinese. They are also shipped from some European countries, unfortunately. And one can fight that. I think that if the Chinese leader wanted this not to happen, it would not happen," Zelensky added as quoted.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em><strong>Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on Ukraine-Russia war on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos</strong></em></p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>


Chinese and Russian companies are developing and testing an attack drone based on the Iranian-made Shahed amid the war against Ukraine, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday (Jul 2) citing anonymous European officials familiar with the situation.

Chinese and Russian companies are developing and testing an attack drone based on the Iranian-made Shahed amid the war against Ukraine, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday (Jul 2) citing anonymous European officials familiar with the situation. The report mentioned that the companies held talks about collaborating to replicate Iran's Shahed drone in 2023. Ukraine has often claimed that its air defence systems intercepted Iranian-style Shahed attack drones, but the Chinese drones have yet to be used in the war. Also read: Vladimir Putin believes Donald Trump is sincere about ending Ukraine war China claimed that it had a neutral stand in the war despite Western officials saying that Beijing provided equipment and other aid to President Vladimir Putin's forces. The unmanned aircraft, which is under development, is called the "Sunflower 200", as per Chinese defence websites and media outlets. Russia has not officially commented but according to the state-run TASS news agency, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday that "we don't react in any way" to the report. Also read: SCO summit: Xi meets 'old friend' Putin, duo vows to fast-track Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline project As quoted by the Bloomberg report, Liu Pengyu, who is the spokesman for China's embassy in the US, said in a statement Beijing doesn't provide weapons to the parties of the Ukraine conflict. Liu added that China strictly controls exports of dual-use articles. "On the Ukraine crisis, it is quite clear to the international community who is calling for dialogue and striving for peace, and who is fueling the fight and inciting confrontation,” said Liu. "We urge the relevant countries to immediately stop fueling the fight and inciting confrontation," Liu added. Watch: Ukraine's F-16s: A sitting duck or a game changer? × In connection to the report, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in an interview on Wednesday with Bloomberg Television, said: "We don't have 100% evidence that Chinese weapons are shipped to Russia. The Chinese leader told me that he won't do that." "Some components are there — like for drones. Some dual-use, they are probably there. But those are not only Chinese. They are also shipped from some European countries, unfortunately. And one can fight that. I think that if the Chinese leader wanted this not to happen, it would not happen," Zelensky added as quoted. Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on Ukraine-Russia war on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos (With inputs from agencies)

China developing and testing Shahed-like attack drone for Russia: Report

<p>Chinese duplicate products are nothing new, but this one takes the cake. A Chinese company reportedly knocked off an Iranian military drone, no less, and listed it for sale on Alibaba online marketplace, according to a report on the Vice news website.<br />
<br />
The drone is similar to the one from the Shahed series and was listed without the payload, before being yanked off the site, the report said.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">🔥 on social media: a 🇨🇳 company is selling a fixed-wing drone, XHZ-50, which looks like Iran’s Shahed 136 loitering munition (suicide drone), on Alibaba for US$57,000…<a href="https://t.co/9Xdo9AKBEu">https://t.co/9Xdo9AKBEu</a> <a href="https://t.co/YFHNKp3hQP">pic.twitter.com/YFHNKp3hQP</a></p>
— Byron Wan (@Byron_Wan) <a href="https://twitter.com/Byron_Wan/status/1747446924867952709?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 17, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to X user Byron Wan, a company called Sunlipo Energy Shenzen Co Limited &nbsp;"is selling a fixed-wing drone, XHZ-50, which looks like Iran’s Shahed 136 loitering munition (suicide drone), on Alibaba for US$57,000".</p>

<p>Wan also shared the specifications of the Iranian drone which looks a lot similar to the Chinese one.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<strong>Watch:&nbsp;Iran attacks Pakistan with missiles and drones, Pak summons Tehran's envoy</strong></p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Iranian drone Shahed 136, according to an AFP news agency graphic, is a long-range suicide drone for hitting fixed targets. Developed by Iran's HESA in 2021, it has the capability to carry 36kg of explosives as warhead. Shahed 136 has a range of 2,500 kilometres and a maximum speed of 135 km per hour. The drone weighs 200 kg and has a length of 3.5 metres and a wingspan of 2.5 metres.&nbsp;</p>

<p><br />
<strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/explained-why-did-iran-attack-pakistan-what-is-jaish-al-adl-680852">Explained | Why did Iran attack Pakistan? What is Jaish al-Adl group targeted by Tehran?</a></strong><br />
<br />
The one that was listed on Alibaba, meanwhile, showed similar specifications.</p>

<p>The company called it XHZ-50 Fixed Wing UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle).</p>

<p>It was selling for $57,000, and the minimum order was one set.<br />
<br />
It&nbsp;had&nbsp;a weight of 150 pounds and used&nbsp;gasoline as fuel.</p>

<p>It's a remote-controlled drone that can be navigated from a six-mile distance.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Iran had sold Shahed 136, a so-called loitering munition to Russia. During the ongoing war on Ukraine, Russia reportedly used drones from the Shahed series.</p>

<p>Alibaba removed the listing from the website after the American publication Motherboard reached out for comment, Vice reported.</p>

<p>&nbsp;Reacting to the development, X user Philip Pilkington wrote: "Talk about commodification. You can now buy your Iranian suicide drones - sans payload - straight from Alibaba. Its a new world."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Talk about commodification. You can now buy your Iranian suicide drones - sans payload - straight from Alibaba. Its a new world. 🛩️ <a href="https://t.co/X545Yglhzr">https://t.co/X545Yglhzr</a></p>
— Philip Pilkington (@philippilk) <a href="https://twitter.com/philippilk/status/1747512683161686072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 17, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>According to the report in Vice, Ukraine has&nbsp;claimed that Russia used&nbsp;some 3,000 Shahed suicide drones on the country over the past two years of the war.<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Chinese duplicate products are nothing new, but this one takes the cake. A Chinese company reportedly knocked off an Iranian military drone, no less, and listed it for sale on Alibaba online marketplace, according to a report on the Vice news website.

Chinese duplicate products are nothing new, but this one takes the cake. A Chinese company reportedly knocked off an Iranian military drone, no less, and listed it for sale on Alibaba online marketplace, according to a report on the Vice news website. The drone is similar to the one from the Shahed series and was listed without the payload, before being yanked off the site, the report said. 🔥 on social media: a 🇨🇳 company is selling a fixed-wing drone, XHZ-50, which looks like Iran’s Shahed 136 loitering munition (suicide drone), on Alibaba for US$57,000…https://t.co/9Xdo9AKBEu pic.twitter.com/YFHNKp3hQP — Byron Wan (@Byron_Wan) January 17, 2024 × According to X user Byron Wan, a company called Sunlipo Energy Shenzen Co Limited "is selling a fixed-wing drone, XHZ-50, which looks like Iran’s Shahed 136 loitering munition (suicide drone), on Alibaba for US$57,000". Wan also shared the specifications of the Iranian drone which looks a lot similar to the Chinese one. Watch: Iran attacks Pakistan with missiles and drones, Pak summons Tehran's envoy × The Iranian drone Shahed 136, according to an AFP news agency graphic, is a long-range suicide drone for hitting fixed targets. Developed by Iran's HESA in 2021, it has the capability to carry 36kg of explosives as warhead. Shahed 136 has a range of 2,500 kilometres and a maximum speed of 135 km per hour. The drone weighs 200 kg and has a length of 3.5 metres and a wingspan of 2.5 metres. Also read: Explained | Why did Iran attack Pakistan? What is Jaish al-Adl group targeted by Tehran? The one that was listed on Alibaba, meanwhile, showed similar specifications. The company called it XHZ-50 Fixed Wing UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle). It was selling for $57,000, and the minimum order was one set. It had a weight of 150 pounds and used gasoline as fuel. It's a remote-controlled drone that can be navigated from a six-mile distance. Iran had sold Shahed 136, a so-called loitering munition to Russia. During the ongoing war on Ukraine, Russia reportedly used drones from the Shahed series. Alibaba removed the listing from the website after the American publication Motherboard reached out for comment, Vice reported. Reacting to the development, X user Philip Pilkington wrote: "Talk about commodification. You can now buy your Iranian suicide drones - sans payload - straight from Alibaba. Its a new world." Talk about commodification. You can now buy your Iranian suicide drones - sans payload - straight from Alibaba. Its a new world. 🛩️ https://t.co/X545Yglhzr — Philip Pilkington (@philippilk) January 17, 2024 × According to the report in Vice, Ukraine has claimed that Russia used some 3,000 Shahed suicide drones on the country over the past two years of the war. (With inputs from agencies)

Chinese firm knocked off Iran drone, sold it on Alibaba site: Report

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World at War | Episode 25: Russia deploys Iranian Shahed drones against Ukraine

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