Russia Intensifies Drone Production Amid Ongoing Conflict
Russia is significantly ramping up its production of strike drones, with plans to manufacture 79,000 kamikaze drones this year, according to Vadym Skibitskyi, deputy head of the Chief Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense, in an interview with Suspilne, reports 24brussels.
Skibitskyi detailed that the aggressor nation intends to produce 40,000 Geran-2 drones, 5,700 Harpy-1 drones, and 34,000 Gerbera drones among others. The scale of this production reflects a clear escalation in military capabilities amid the ongoing conflict.
The deputy chief intelligence director emphasized that additional production lines have been set up in Yelabuga and Izhevsk, demonstrating Russia’s commitment to bolstering its drone manufacturing. Furthermore, the occupiers are striving to completely substitute imports for all components required for kamikaze drones.
According to the intelligence representative, Russia is now producing its own internal combustion engines, airframes, navigation systems (excluding microelectronics and chips), and antennas for the drones. This indicates a strategic shift towards self-sufficiency in drone technology.
In previously reported statements, Ukrainian Armed Forces reconnaissance commander Denys Yaroslavskyi indicated that Russia plans to enhance the combat payload of its kamikaze drones to 80-90 kilograms. This upgrade could pose new threats to Ukrainian defenses.
The discourse surrounding a proposed “drone shield” raises important questions regarding its feasibility versus the costly reality of intercepting inexpensive drones. For an analysis, refer to the article “The Arithmetic of War: Why Cheap Interceptor Drones Are Very Expensive” by Yuriy Kasyanov.
