China provides geospatial intelligence to Russia

China is providing geospatial intelligence to Russia, which is also used in the war against Ukraine.

Bloomberg reported on this.

According to U.S. intelligence, China is providing geospatial intelligence to Russia, which is used both in the war against Ukraine and to monitor the deployment of NATO troops in Europe.

In addition to the information itself, the publication claims that China is also providing Russia with microelectronics, optics, propellants to be used in missiles, and generally expanding cooperation in this area.

“Amid signs of continued military integration between the two nations, China has provided Russia with satellite imagery for military purposes,” the publication noted.

Russia currently receives information from China’s HEAD Aerospace, which is a supplier of optical and radar data from more than 100 Chinese spacecraft.

In addition to government agencies, the satellites were also leased by the Wagner PMC. According to the French edition of Agence France-Presse (AFP), in November 2022, the Russian mercenary group leased two Chinese high-resolution Jilin-1 Gaofen 03D12 and 03D13 satellites and related services for a total of more than $30 million.

They were launched into a 535 km orbit in the same year, 2022.

In general, in addition to optical satellite systems, the Russian Defense Ministry and the Wagner PMC also received intelligence information from radar satellites of the Chinese operator Spacety.

It should be noted that politically, China is trying to portray itself as a neutral country, but at the same time, it is supporting Russia with equipment that the country uses for military purposes.

In March 2024, Russia started using 122-mm artillery shells that resemble Chinese-made shells.

It is not yet clear whether these shells are produced in Russia or whether China is providing them directly as part of its assistance.