An investigation by The Insider, published inter alia on the Ukrainian portal RBC, revealed that the Chinese company Shenzhen Xingkai Technology is ready to supply Russia with mesh modems used in strike drone communication systems. The publication's correspondent in Ukraine examined the Xingkai Tech modem found in a Gerbera drone and then, posing as a Russian military supplier, obtained evidence of readiness for a deal from the manufacturer: the company issued an invoice for a batch of devices for the plant in Alabuga.
How mesh networks allow drones to penetrate deep into territory
A mesh network is a communication system in which devices transmit data to each other through intermediate nodes. In this setup, each drone can act as a signal repeater and maintain communication with devices outside direct contact with the operator. According to The Insider, mesh technology is the most practical solution for controlling Russian long-range UAVs over Ukraine: it allows receiving commands during flight and exploiting gaps in Ukrainian air defense by maintaining communication between devices at a distance when a direct channel with the operator is unavailable.
Fake deal and issued invoice
Journalists posing as potential buyers asked the manufacturer to calculate the cost of supplying 500 devices to Alabuga. The company issued an invoice for 19.5 million yuan, which, according to the publication's recalculation, is approximately $2.87 million. Accounts in DBS Bank, Ping An Bank, and China Merchants Bank were offered for payment. It is noted that potential buyers explicitly indicated the military purpose of the equipment, yet the manufacturer continued discussing the deal.
Market share and significance for Russian manufacturers
According to The Insider, Shenzhen Xingkai Technology holds about half of the market for powerful mesh modems designed for Geran and Gerbera type drones. This makes the company's supplies critically important for Russian military equipment manufacturers, since Chinese components, according to the investigation, are a significant part of the communication systems used in strike drones.
Military context and previous statements
Earlier in April, military personnel noted that the use of mesh modems in controlling Shahed and Gerbera type drones allows the enemy to deepen reconnaissance and expand the control zone. Thus, the readiness of the Chinese manufacturer to supply, recorded in the investigation, fits into the already described practice of using such components in the Russian drone fleet.
What this means
The investigation records the channel through which Chinese equipment enters the communication systems of Russian strike drones and shows that the manufacturer did not abandon the deal even after a direct indication of military use. For analyzing further supplies and possible dual-use export control mechanisms, this case serves as a concrete example with recorded amounts and bank details.
