Russia Ramps Up Drone Output as War Stokes Industrial Growth
- Production of remote control equipment surged 33% versus 2022
- UK warned Russia seeks to be self-sufficient in producing UAVs
A man looks at the damage as Ukrainian firefighters extinguish a fire following an overnight Russian drone strike in Kharkiv on November 3.
Photographer: Sergey Bobok/AFP/Getty ImagesRussia is increasing the domestic production of battle drones, one of its most important combat weapons, alongside a surge in other military-related manufacturing as the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine enters a second winter with no end in sight.
Although there’s no public data on the specific number of drones being produced, official statistics have shown an approximately 80% annual increase in the production of remote-control equipment, including those used for guiding combat unmanned aerial vehicles, in recent months. Federal Statistics Service data published late Wednesday show that in October, the output in this category, listed under “most important product types” in the report, grew by 33% compared to the previous year.