“Transaction records obtained by Nikkei indicate that a Chinese defense trading company and a Belarusian partner have signed import-export contracts under which China will supply manufacturing equipment to produce key components for rocket ammunitions. Preparations for construction have already begun.”
“Under the contracts, the facility to be built in Belarus will house a production line for warhead components for 122-millimeter rocket ammunitions that have been widely used by Russian forces in Ukraine. The plan initially envisions output equivalent to 120,000 rounds a year, with operations slated to begin in the second half of 2026.”
“According to the documents, China National Electronics Import & Export Corporation (CEIEC), a major state-owned military trading company, signed a contract in Beijing on Dec. 20, 2023, with ZTEM (Precise Electro-Mechanics Plant), a Belarusian state-owned defense-related enterprise, to design and supply a production line for ‘122-mm rocket warhead components.'”
“The warhead components appear intended for export to Russia. Related documents show that on Oct. 18, 2023, ZTEM obtained a certificate of conformity for cases used to transport fuses for 122-mm rockets, with a Russian certification body conducting the inspection.”