Despite American Sanctions Russian Arms Development with Chinese Assistance
Despite the ineffective American ban, Russia is building its arsenal with the assistance of China.
Moscow
Russia’s arms industry is flourishing despite American sanctions, thanks to assistance from China. Moscow’s capability to produce significant weaponry has continued to grow, even amidst the Russia-Ukraine conflict. At the beginning of this year, Russia doubled its capacity to produce long-range missiles.
Defense experts attribute this to Russia’s collaboration with new international suppliers, who provide electronics and equipment. While most arms trade involves shell companies, a report from the Think Tank Center for Strategic and International Studies revealed China as Russia’s primary supplier of arms.
China supplies Russia with navigation devices, semiconductors, jet parts, ball bearings, and artillery components. China has also provided Russia with CNC machines crucial for manufacturing defense equipment. After Xi Jinping’s visit to Russia in March 2023, Chinese exports to Russia surged.
Russia is acquiring defense supplies from countries like France, Germany, Turkey, and the UAE. According to the Royal United Services Institute, Russia’s microelectronics company KEMP JSC imported significant amounts of Western microelectronics from Hong Kong and Germany.
Looking ahead, Russia’s defense production is expected to continue its upward trend as its defense budget is projected to reach up to $115 billion in 2024, a 68% increase from 2023. Meanwhile, China faces shortages in explosive materials required for manufacturing artillery, rockets, and other weaponry. Russia is addressing this issue by improving its stocks and sources.
