China Has Cut Off Drone Supplies To Russia

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce introduced export controls on UAVs on September 1.

A shortage of drones and their components has begun in Russia due to China’s ban on supplying drones for military purposes, Kommersant writes, citing traders.

China's Ministry of Commerce introduced export controls on high-performance unmanned aircraft (UAVs) that could be used for military purposes on September 1.

As a result, drone supplies to Russia weighing 4 kg or more or a maximum take-off weight of 7 kg with a flight duration of more than 30 minutes have ceased. Also drones capable of “carrying a load with a drop function or the ability to attach such a device” were banned.

In addition, China has limited the supply of components: multi and hyperspectral cameras for drones, powerful on-board radio equipment, infrared cameras, thermal imagers, as well as laser ranging and positioning modules, The Moscow Times.

Now, to supply this equipment, Chinese suppliers must obtain a license from the Ministry of Trade of the People's Republic of China and permission from the customs service, including providing information about the final recipient.

At the same time, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce checks the recipient for presence on sanctions lists “related to military activities or actions undesirable for China” and requests financial reports and corporate documents.

For violation of license requirements, Chinese exporters face administrative liability, and in case of intentional violation, criminal liability.

According to market participants, the ban by the Chinese authorities on the supply of drones for military purposes has actually led to the suspension of supplies even of those products that are not subject to the restrictions imposed.

Ten large retailers of agricultural, monitoring and industrial drones, including Paragraf, Spb-geon, RusGeoСom, IQmac, are running out of their stocks. Some models remained in one-piece quantities, and the prices doubled. For example, DJI and XAG agricultural drones, popular in the Russian Federation, have doubled in price.

It was possible to import certain drone models through Kazakhstan until recently, but, as three sellers noted, suppliers from a neighbouring country notified that they would cease shipments due to tightening controls over dual-use products.

Before the ban came into force, retailers exported everything they could in bulk, notes Dmitry Datsykov, CEO of RuDrones. According to him, the reserves of drones and components in Russia will be enough for one or two quarters. However, neither Russian importers nor Chinese exporters, who do not want to take responsibility for the final recipients, understand the prospects for further supplies.