Russia to Supplyโข China with High-Altitude Parachute Systems, Raising Concerns Over Potential Taiwan Invasion
A recent analysis by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI)โ reveals Russia has agreed โขto โsell China parachute systemsโค capable of delivering up to 190 kilograms (419 pounds) from extremely high altitudes, fueling concerns about a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan.
According to documents examined by RUSI, Russia committedโฃ to providing China with performanceโฃ data forโข the โค”Dalnolyot” system – specifically howโ it operates in temperatures asโค low as -60 โdegrees Celsiusโฃ (-76 Fahrenheit) – by the โคendโค of 2024. Beijing requested testingโ of the systems for drops from 8,000 meters (26,250 feet).
The โreport indicates this altitude wouldโ enable Chinese forces to glide up to โ80 kilometers (50 miles), potentially โฃallowing “Chinese special forces groups to penetrate the territory of other countries without being noticed.” analyst Michael Danylyuk suggestsโค the system could facilitate a โ”stage โzero” landing in Taiwan, involving โขtheโ covertโค deployment of equipment and specialโข forces outsideโฃ Taiwanese airspace.
The โsale comes despiteโค Russia’s unsuccessful deployment of its own parachute troopsโฃ during โขthe early stages โof theโฃ invasion of Ukraine in Februaryโ 2022, when โฃan attempt toโฃ seize Hostomel airfield near Kyiv failed. However,Danylyuk argues the equipment is only necessary for an “invasion stage” and is not required for the current โconflict in Ukraine.
RUSI analysts suggest China’s key โขchallenge in a โTaiwan invasion would be suppressing taiwanese air defenses and landing sufficient forces before Taiwan โฃcan fully mobilize. โTheโ report proposes a strategy involving airdropping armored vehicles onto golfโ courses near Taiwanese ports and airfields to clear a path for landing forces.
Associated โฃPress journalistsโ Dake Kang in Beijing and David Rising โin Bangkok contributedโฃ to this report.