Russia's secret plan to supercharge kamikaze drone production

Satellite images from May and July show land adjacent to Rosatom's Alabuga-Volokno carbon fiber factory in Tatarstan's Alabuga Special Economic Zone cleared for expansion. Ukrainian documents reveal Russia plans to boost carbon fiber production for military drones, with estimates suggesting 28,000 additional drones could be produced annually.

The expansion aims to lessen Russia's dependence on Chinese imports. Moscow is expanding its capacity to manufacture tens of thousands of lethal drones used in attacks on Ukrainian cities. The increase in production could result in an additional 500 tons of military-grade aerospace carbon fiber each year by 2029, translated into a 78% rise in weaponized drone production.

Ukraine currently estimates Russia's annual production of kamikaze drones, known as Gerans, to be over 36,000. The plans demonstrate Russia's commitment to weaponized drone technology and its growing targeting of Europe. The Alabuga-Volokno factory, operated by Rosatom's advanced materials division UMATEX, is sanctioned by the UK, US, and several other Western governments.

The factory is part of Moscow's military-industrial supply chain and received a disguised shipment of carbon-fiber chemicals from a Chinese state corporation earlier this year. Rosatom stated that it operates in full compliance with applicable laws and regulations, while the Chinese embassy in Washington denied knowledge of the expansion plans and emphasized strict controls over dual-use exports.

Documents from the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Centre, reviewed by the US House Select Committee on China and the Ukrainian government, confirm the authenticity of the expansion plans and the factory's construction progress.