According to documents obtained by the American newspaper Politico from Ukrainian sources, Russia's state-owned company Rosatom plans to expand its Alabuga-Volokno plant in Tatarstan to increase production of military-grade carbon fiber. The expansion aims to add 500 tons of high-specification carbon fiber annually by 2029. This move is part of Russia's broader strategy to enhance its domestic production capabilities for drones.
The expansion plans, which include detailed engineering and construction blueprints, were obtained by the Ukrainian Center for Security and Cooperation (USCC). The new facility will be built in the special economic zone of Alabuga. The Russian government approved the construction of the new production line in May, and satellite images from May to July show site preparation work. The new production line will enable Russia to produce more drones.
The expert David Albright, founder of the Institute for Science and International Security in Washington, confirmed that the new plant is being prepared, but noted that completing it by 2027 would require a very rapid construction pace. Ukraine estimates that Russia currently produces over 36,000 Geran-2 kamikaze drones annually. These drones are an upgraded version of the Iranian-designed Shahed-136.
The increased production capacity could provide structures for 28,000 additional drones annually, representing a 78% increase in total production. This development aligns with Russia's efforts to localize carbon fiber production instead of relying on imports. Earlier, Politico reported that the same plant received a covert shipment of 46 tons of carbon fiber production chemicals from a Chinese company.
A Rosatom internal document states that the expansion aims to replace imports of dual-use products and meet the needs of Russia's aerospace and defense sectors for carbon fiber. This is part of a larger Russian project aiming to manufacture around 130,000 drones by 2030 and up to 350,000 by 2035.
The authenticity of the documents has been confirmed by the US House of Representatives committee on China and a US government official. Ukraine has also officially acknowledged the documents' authenticity. Both the Alabuga-Volokno plant and its parent company, Rosatom, are subject to British, American, and Western sanctions.
Rosatom declined to comment on the documents, while the Chinese Embassy in Washington denied knowledge of the expansion plans. The development highlights Russia's focus on self-sufficiency in producing critical drone components.
Key points
- Russia plans to increase its carbon fiber production by 500 tons annually by 2029.
- The expansion will enable Russia to produce 28,000 additional drones annually.
- The move is part of Russia's strategy to manufacture 130,000 drones by 2030.
