Russia has doubled the production of "Shahaned": where do drones-Kamikadze for attacks in Ukraine make
The Armed Forces of the Armed Forces show that since June 2024 there is a monthly increase in Shahhedov attacks: in November 2024, 2300 pieces were launched, and in January 2025-2696. This growth was made possible by increasing the ability of Russia to increase local production of the Iranian SHAHED 136 OWA-UAV. In 2022, Iran began to supply Shahd 131 and Shahd 136 to Russia after the start of a full -scale war in Ukraine.
Shortly afterwards, Iran initiated a large -scale technology transfer program to facilitate the production of these systems in Russia. Russian "Shahda" was called Geran-2 (Geran-2). Ukrainian sources have previously stated that Russia has produced more than 6000 OWA-UAV in 2024 and intends to increase this number by 2025. This statement is confirmed by satellite images showing the development of infrastructure for ShahED production.
Despite the constant flux of Shahd 136 from Iran, Moscow invests significant funds in its own production facilities, and the special economic zone (OZ) "Alabuga" in Tatarstan has long been estimated as a production site for Russian production systems. At the time of its initial operation, at the beginning of 2023, the production site consisted of two warehouses with an approximate area of 80,000 square meters.
Satellite images from April 2025 show that the object has doubled, and at least five new buildings appeared near the original place. Three of new buildings, apparently, have the same UAV protection cells that were found in the original place, a preventive measure taken after the Ukrainian attack in April 2024. Both physical and operational safety measures were strengthened. A fence around the perimeter was erected around the two initial warehouses and two new buildings directly in the west.
The same thing happens around two buildings northwest of the site, both of which are connected to the initial platform of covered crossings, probably built to ensure the transportation of components between buildings. In addition, when entering the SEZ, all vehicles must now have an electronic pass. In addition, the construction of four new buildings began. Even further, but still within the limits of the OEZ, the logistics complex "Dan Xiaopin" recently started operation.
It is located about 30 km south of the main site, this common Russian-Chinese object is expected to supply components from China for the production of drones-Kamikadze. Researchers believe that the second production line for copies of Shahd 136 was built in Izhevsk. This production line is operated by the Dome, a subsidiary of Diamond Anta, which was previously engaged in the development of unmanned aerial vehicles.
According to Ukrainian military intelligence, Russia also creates a production line for a jet Shahd 238. However, this statement has not been independently confirmed. However, researchers say that although the number of Shahamed produced has increased, the quality has fallen. In conditions of increasing financial pressure, Russia has tried to reduce the cost of production of drones-Kamikadze, and high quality Western components are replaced by cheaper Chinese counterparts, which often refuse.