News of War Staff Writer
A view shows military drones exhibited at the National Defence Control Centre of Russian Defence Ministry in Moscow, Russia December 19, 2023. Sputnik/Mikhail Klimentyev/Kremlin via REUTERS/File Photo
Russia Targets Massive Drone Production Boost by 2030, Aiming for Domestic Market Dominance Amid Ongoing War
Russia has embarked on an ambitious plan to significantly scale up its production of drones, aiming to surpass the 32,000 annual production mark by 2030, according to a statement by First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov, as reported by TASS news agency. This planned increase would mark nearly a threefold rise from the nation's current drone manufacturing output.
In a detailed projection of the country's strategic objectives in the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) sector, Belousov outlined that domestically produced drones are expected to constitute 70% of the market. This move is indicative of Russia's intent to bolster its technological self-sufficiency and reduce reliance on foreign UAVs.
Drones have become a staple in the military strategies of both Moscow and Kyiv in the wake of Russia's incursion into Ukraine in February 2022. As the conflict persists, an escalation in military production has become a critical focus for both nations.
Belousov emphasized to TASS that "The annual production volume of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) - excluding educational UAVs - is planned at 32,500 units. This is almost three times higher than current production volumes. At the same time, it is planned that the share of Russian UAVs will make up 70% of the market in this type of UAV."
The Russian military has been increasingly employing Shahed drones, which are inexpensive, Iranian-made UAVs recognizable in Ukraine by their distinctive noisy petrol engines. These drones have been a frequent presence in aerial operations targeting Ukrainian infrastructure, striking deep into territories far removed from the main battlefronts in the eastern and southern regions of Ukraine.
Russia has earmarked substantial financial resources for the national UAV project, with a budget of 696 billion roubles (equivalent to approximately $7.66 billion) set aside up to the year 2030. Belousov indicated that further details regarding this investment would be forthcoming within the month.
The significance of UAVs extends beyond military applications, a point underscored by President Vladimir Putin last year when he stated that drone technology has potential uses across a broad spectrum of industries.
At the outset of the Ukraine conflict, Russian drones presented a tactical challenge for Ukrainian air defenses, proving difficult to detect and posing economic dilemmas due to the disparity in cost between the drones and the air defense missiles required to intercept them.
In response to these evolving battlefield dynamics, Ukraine has turned to the innovative use of FPV (first-person-view) drones. Initially designed for civilian recreational purposes, these small drones have been adapted for military use, serving as cost-effective tools for reconnaissance and combat operations.
Embracing this approach, Ukraine announced plans in December to ramp up its production of medium- and long-range attack drones to over 11,000 units in 2024, along with an ambitious goal of manufacturing one million FPV drones to meet the high demand at the front lines.
These developments reflect a broader trend in modern warfare where unmanned systems are playing increasingly prominent roles, reshaping strategies, and prompting nations to invest heavily in drone technologies for a variety of tactical and strategic advantages.