Media: Russia plans major expansion of kamikaze drone production

Russia is planning a major expansion of its capacity to produce kamikaze drones, according to documents obtained by POLITICO that detail plans to increase carbon-fibre production at a state-owned factory in Tatarstan.

The expansion of Rosatom’s Alabuga-Volokno plant would add up to 500 tonnes of military-grade aerospace carbon fibre production each year by 2029. The lightweight material is used in the airframes of Russia’s Geran attack drones, which are based on Iran’s Shahed design.

Weapons expert David Albright, who independently examined the plans, estimated that the additional carbon fibre could be enough to produce about 28,000 drone airframes a year. That would represent a substantial increase over Ukraine’s estimate that Russia can currently produce more than 36,000 kamikaze drones annually.

The documents were obtained by the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Centre, a Kyiv-based think tank, and include business, design and construction plans for the proposed expansion.

A US government official familiar with the documents said the US House Select Committee on China had reviewed them and found them authentic. A Ukrainian official also confirmed their authenticity. Both officials spoke anonymously.

Russian government approval for the construction of a new production line was granted in May. Satellite images taken between May and July show land next to the existing Alabuga-Volokno factory being cleared for construction, according to Ukrainian officials. Albright said images he obtained independently showed that the foundations were being prepared.

The project is intended partly to reduce Russia’s reliance on imported materials from China. Rosatom documents say the expansion will support the production of carbon fibre for Russia’s aviation and defence industries.

The plans also include a new plant producing polyacrylonitrile, or PAN, a precursor used to manufacture high-grade carbon fibre.

Rosatom declined to comment on the documents. The Chinese embassy in Washington said it was unaware of the expansion plans and that China strictly controls exports of dual-use goods.

The expansion comes as Russia continues large-scale drone attacks against Ukraine. Analysts cited by POLITICO said the growth in production could also have implications for European security, amid reports of Russian drones entering Polish and Romanian airspace.

Russia has said it is prepared to resume negotiations over the war in Ukraine. However, analysts cited by POLITICO said the planned expansion indicates that Moscow is continuing to strengthen its military-industrial capacity.

By Aghakazim Guliyev