Recently, there has been a surge of information regarding jet-powered Shahed kamikaze drones that Russia seeks to deploy in its operations against Ukraine. Russian industrial capacity allows for production of around 200 such drones daily, despite some Western media claims of 1,000 units per day—numbers not reflected in reality.
The warhead of new kamikaze drones may be twice as large, and with a jet engine, these UAVs could reach speeds of 400-500 km/h. However, experts doubt that mass production of such jet Shaheds is feasible now, as this would require new technologies and substantive changes in design.
There have been isolated cases of jet-powered drones being used, but no evidence of large-scale deployment in Ukraine so far. Key technological and aerodynamic questions remain regarding efficiency and fuel consumption compared to propeller-driven models.
As for China's role, the country officially does not supply arms to Russia and mainly adheres to a “money for goods” policy, selling microelectronics and composites that may be used in drone production. Some components also come from EU countries, sometimes via third countries. Debate continues about China's involvement, with experts agreeing that serious EU sanctions are unlikely, given economic interdependence.
In conclusion, Russia does not have the current capacity for mass production of jet-powered kamikaze drones, and China's involvement is limited to providing raw materials and electronics through regular trade relations.
