Chinese troops line up for Russia’s Tsentr-2026 exercise as military ties tighten
Chinese troops have taken part in a mass multinational exercise in Russia featuring new anti-drone and ground robot systems – drills that Russian state media said “applied lessons” from the Ukraine war. The troops were among more than 47,000 military personnel involved in the Tsentr-2026 – or Centre-2026 – drills in the central western Chelyabinsk region from Monday until Saturday. The Russian…
Chinese troops participated in a massive international military exercise in Russia, showcasing new anti-drone and ground robot systems used during the Tsentr-2026 drills. Conducted in the Chelyabinsk region from Monday to Saturday, the strategic command-and-staff exercise involved over 47,000 personnel and applied lessons from the Ukraine war to defend against external aggression in Central Asia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin observed the drills at the Chebarkul Training Ground and met foreign military attaches from SCO member countries. The People's Liberation Army (PLA) joined forces with troops from Russia, Belarus, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, and Tajikistan, training in reconnaissance, coordinated obstacle breaching, attacks, and battlefield first aid exercises.
The PLA deployed Type 99A main battle tanks, drones, unmanned ground vehicles, and helicopters, coordination efforts including a multi-wave firepower tactic to strike enemy positions. The drills highlighted the rapid evolution of drone and counter-drone warfare, driven by the Ukraine conflict, and reflect the deepening strategic coordination between China and Russia, beyond mere air and naval patrols.
Written by urgent.news from Reuters Business via SCMP's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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