Usually, the symbiotic relationship between russia and China is discussed in the context of the Kremlin's war on Ukraine or the international trade sanctions it entails. However, there is also a less noticeable side to this cooperation concerning both countries' ambitions in Africa, where russia effectively paves the way for Chinese arms supplies into the continent.
There is at least one interesting example, reported by Opex360, featuring a small batch of FK-2000 air defense systems, and although the volumes were not that impressive in this instance, we should really pay attention to the geopolitical configuration here.
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Specifically, China has delivered at least two FK-2000 surface-to-air missile and anti-aircraft artillery systems to the Armed Forces of Chad. These systems occupy the same niche as the russian Pantsir and have an operating range of 25 kilometers against airborne targets. Alongside the FK-2000s, 64 associated missiles and 6,000 30mm rounds were also supplied.
Chad needs these systems to ensure its air defense against the backdrop of constant hostilities in the neighboring Sudan: the military operations are heavily supported by aviation, creating a permeating risk of accidental strikes on adjacent foreign territories.
According to Opex360, the transfer was mediated by the United Arab Emirates, and there's also a bit of intrigue: the Chinese air defense systems may end up in possession of one of the conflict sides in Sudan, supported by Chad.
The fact of this supply may seem ordinary at first glance, but what matters here is the context. The first detail of note is that up to this point, there had been no recorded cases of China selling its air defense systems in the African market before, only armored vehicles and self-propelled artillery.
Secondly, the delivery took place shortly after the Chadian government declared a political course toward closer defense cooperation with russia in fall 2024. That makes it strange that Chad opted for Chinese weapons instead of the aforementioned Pantsir systems. Especially, considering that the African nation's air defense inventory is overall very modest: four Kub SAM launchers, six ZSU-23-4 Shilka self-propelled autocannons, and one MiG-29 fighter in storage.
Chad had two MiG-29 fighters in operation. They were both severely damaged with debris as hangars collapsed over them. pic.twitter.com/OuLCpABcp3— Defense News Nigeria (@DefenseNigeria) February 15, 2022
It remains unclear if this transfer was an elaborate form of cooperation between Beijing and Moscow in Africa or another illustration of China pushing russia out of its traditional defense markets. But to complete the picture of this possible symbiosis between the countries, we should recall one more indicative episode.
In summer 2024, Italian police uncovered a batch of Wing Loong UCAVs China was transporting through to Libya, disguised as "wind turbines". The combat drones, as turned out, were intended for the troops of Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, a satellite ruler under russia. Although they didn't manage to reach the destination, the precedent where the Chinese supplied weapons to russian satellites in Africa is telling enough.
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