Russia constructs a colossal drone manufacturing facility, producing Iranian-engineered drones. Subsequently, Tehran finds itself overlooked and isolated.
In a significant shift, Russia's Alabuga factory, located in the Tatarstan region, has evolved from assembling imported Iranian drones to producing highly modified Shahed drones at scale. This transformation marks a significant evolution in Russia's drone production capability.
The Alabuga plant, considered the largest attack drone factory globally, has been the backbone of Russia's drone campaign in Ukraine since late 2022. The factory now manufactures over 5,500 Shahed-136 (Geran-2 in Russian service) drones monthly, with nearly all components produced on-site.
Russian engineers have made substantial modifications to the original Shahed design, improving altitude, resistance to jamming, warhead power, and autonomous operation. The shift to self-sufficient production has drastically reduced costs per drone from $200,000 to about $70,000, largely absorbing the Iranian-designed drone into Russia's military-industrial complex.
The factory, established with Iranian materials and initially relying on Iranian blueprints, now relies mainly on domestic or reverse-engineered parts. The Shahed-136 (Geran-2) and Shahed-131 (Geran-1) drones are collectively part of Russia's "Project Boat," indicating a full localization and operational integration.
This evolution has not been without tension. A Western intelligence source claims that the expansion and complete Russian integration of the Shahed-136 have effectively marginalized Iran. Iran has been growing increasingly impatient with the little return it has received from Russia, despite having supported Moscow's war effort with not just drones, but missiles and other assets.
Analysts and intelligence officials believe that 90% of the production stages for the Shahed drone now happen at Alabuga or other Russian facilities. The CEO of Alabuga, Timur Shagivaleev, states that most components for the Iranian-designed Shahed drone are now produced locally at the factory.
Despite the tension, a Western intelligence official argues that Russia's distant approach towards Iran shows the "purely transactional and utilitarian nature" of Russian cooperation with Iran. The official further states that Iran will likely receive the things it needs for its own security, whether it's military hardware, economic cooperation, or technology, despite the current tension between the two countries.
Recent satellite imagery shows that the Alabuga site is continuing to expand, with new production facilities and dorms. Open-source flight tracking data shows a Gelix Airlines Ilyushin-76 military cargo plane flew from Moscow to Tehran on July 11, which may have been transporting military equipment. However, the Russia Ministry of Defense and the Iranian government have not responded to CNN's requests for comment on the tension between the two countries.
[1] [Source 1] [2] [Source 2] [3] [Source 3] [4] [Source 4] [5] [Source 5]
Despite the geographical shift from the Middle East to Europe, the Alabuga factory in Russia, now self-sufficient in its production of Shahed drones, continues to make significant contributions to the world of sports – specifically, the sport of warfare. The factory's expanded capabilities have resulted in a rise of Russia's global standing in drone technology, raising concerns among Western nations regarding escalating tensions. [Source 1, Source 2, Source 3, Source 4]
The Alabuga plant, initially established with materials and blueprints from Iran, has since become an integral part of both European and world affairs, showcasing the complexities and dynamics of international relationships in the 21st century. [Source 1, Source 2, Source 5]
