At a time erstwhile Russian prosecutors launch proceedings against Russian citizens in connection with their alleged cooperation with Chinese services, Rosoboronexport – a Russian state agency dealing with defence-related products, technologies and services – sent papers worth nearly £400 to Beijing (about PLN2,000). They concern a strategically crucial military system.
What is Mech's R & D task and why is China curious in it?
At the end of July, the Blackmoon hacker group published a series of PDF files that allegedly included advancement reports on the Mech R & D task — a Russian initiative to make an automated command strategy for the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) air troops. specified systems are designed to manage and coordinate air operations – for example by ensuring safe data transmission, information exchange at operational and tactical level, mission planning and mark setting.
China could possibly usage specified systems to invade Taiwan.
According to military analysts, PLA air attack on Taiwan is unlikelyBecause it would inevitably origin very large losses. However, it cannot be completely excluded, especially under certain circumstances.
Authenticity of documents
The Insider reviewed Russian customs papers obtained by hackers. Among them is an invoice dated 28 June 2024 concerning the shipment of documentation by Rosoboronexport to Chinese company CETC global Co Ltd registered at 2 Wulutong No. 5 in Beijing, holding a bank account at China Construction Bank Corporation. The invoice amounts to EUR 4.3 million. PLN (18.2 million).
The Russian customs data contain 2 entries dated 18 June 2024 — they describe Rosoboronexport, via JSC NIISSU (Institute for the investigation of Communications and Control Systems), as an exporter, and China global Electronic discipline and Technology Trading Co., Ltd. (Pekin, Wulutongbei St.) as a recipient. The value of each consignment reported amounts to EUR 2.1 million (about PLN 9 million) – precisely what the full amount on the invoice published by hackers is.
The consignment was described as ‘military products, categories 16, 16.1, 16.2 — equipment and documentation as listed’ and as the maker was identified by JSC NIISSU. The customs code of the consignment corresponds to the classification of ‘printed books, brochures, leaflets and akin printed materials, framed or loosely carded’.
Similar batches of papers from Rosoboronexport and NIISSU were exported to China in 2022 (two shipments worth EUR 714 thousand, approx. PLN 3 million each), in 2021 (also 2 shipments of the same value) and in 2020 (four shipments of the same value). The full weight of paper papers exported to China exceeded 175 kg, the remainder being CDs and another data carriers.
The individual mentioned in the file as liable for the study is simply a doctor of method discipline named R. N. Pogrebniak. According to the publication available in open sources at the end of the first decade of the 21st century and at the beginning of the second decade of the 21st century, the candidate for method sciences with the same name – Roman Pogrebniak – worked as an older technological individual in 46. Central Institute of investigation of the Ministry of Defence of Russia. As part of his technological work, he wrote about the optimization of the composition, kind and quantity of weapons in the punch force groups. The Insider has determined that a individual with this surname is presently employed at NIISSU in section 201, which develops strategy engineering solutions for the construction of automated command and control systems.
The unsigned memo published by Blackmoon hackers was dated October 2, 2023 and attributed to P. V. Kowalewski and R. N. Pogrebniak, and as "the acting CEO of JSC NIISSU" it lists A. N. Yakimenko. However, The Insider has determined that the only individual presently employed in NIISSU with the surname Yakimenko is N. A. Yakimenko, serving as safety Advisor for the manager General. The note besides contains another inaccuracies – for example incorrect double "йй" (in Cyrillic) in the spelling of the surname "Kowalewski" – which can most likely be explained in haste.
Another paper published by Blackmoon hackers bears the signature of “S. P. Seleznew's chief expert”. The Insider has determined that Sergei Petrowicz Selezniev is actually employed at NIISSU as the main expert in section 207, which deals with global client service.
These details — the exact names and positions of the NIISSU staff, together with the corresponding customs transaction data — let to believe that documents published by Blackmoon hackers are most likely authentic. According to them, the command and control strategy (ACS) includes: equipment and software package (PTS) for command and staff vehicle KSFM-E (air deployment); PTS for integrated communication strategy KAS-E (air application); standard automatic module for field command stations (TMA PKP-E); unified hardware and software package (UPTK) for air combat vehicle BMD-E and portable hardware and software package (NPTK-E).
What else is known about Russian and Chinese military cooperation in this area?
Thanks to its sources, The Insider has gained insight into further documents,These include training plans for Chinese specialists. The program is aimed at 60 soldiers of the Chinese People's Liberation Army and covers 152 hours of lectures, 130 hours of group classes and 150 hours of applicable training. Interestingly, the program besides includes learning to operate R-187BE and R-188E radio stations (UKUS-E), as well as the InmarSat-BGAN Explorer 727 system. According to the documents, simulators and computer rooms for training Chinese personnel are located in JSC Tulatochmash.
According to the papers analyzed by The Insider Many high-level representatives participated in the negotiations between the Russian and Chinese sides in the years 2023 and 2024.
In 2023, the NIISSU in Moscow hosted 17 delegates from China, including the Deputy Head of the Armed Forces Department and Military Equipment of the People's Liberation Army of China and the Deputy Head of the Chief Board of improvement of the Armed Forces and Military Equipment of the Central Military Commission of China. A delegation of 31 participants, chaired by the deputy manager of S. F. Ladygin, was selected for the Beijing gathering in 2024 to finalise the strategy specification. The talks were besides attended by representatives of companies liable for various elements of the order – JSC KBP, Sozvezdie Concern, NPP Rubin, MKPK Universal, JSC Polet and JSC Technodinamika.
From an economical point of view, the rationale for these agreements is clear — Russia is incapable to produce the ‘equipment’ in a cost-effective way due to the disruption of supply chains and the deficiency of a broad marketplace for inputs. However, its programmers and optimization experts are inactive wanted. All this is happening in the context of criminal proceedings concerning completely legal and authoritative cooperation with China.
